Non-fatal strangulation pornography is set to become illegal 10 months after the ban was initially voted down by the Labour Government.
In March 2025, Alicia Kearns MP tabled an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill at Committee Stage proposing to extend the definition of extreme pornography to include non-fatal strangulation, which despite being made a criminal offence in 2022, was not classed as dangerous pornography.
The amendment was supported by the Independent Pornography review conducted by Baroness Bertin, which recommended extending the pornography ban to include non-fatal strangulation.
Labour rejected the idea stating they believed “that material depicting graphic strangulation is already covered” by existing legislation. Labour Ministers argued that as consensual strangulation between partners is legal, they must “be mindful” of the seriousness of a depiction of the act and whether it constituted interference of an individuals right to privately possess material showing it. Labour said that when saw a need to legislate, they would.
Alicia Kearns MP tabled the amendment again at Report Stage, with the help of Dame Caroline Dinenage MP - because Alicia Kearns was in hospital - and forced it to a vote on June 18th, 2025. Despite securing the support of six parties and being backed by Conservative, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, DUP, Reform and Labour MP’s, it was voted down by the Labour Government, who whipped their benches to vote against it.
All of a sudden, the next morning (June 19th, 2025), the Labour Government announced they would ban the depiction of non-fatal strangulation in pornography after all – despite voting against a ban only the night before and dismissing the need for it last March.
Alicia Kearns, Member of Parliament for Rutland and Stamford, said:
“I’m relieved this dangerous content will now be banned - strangulation has been normalised due to this porn, and too many girls and women are suffering - and even losing their lives - as a result. This is a victory for every woman who has suffered men’s hands around their throats: the fear, the paralysis and the helplessness.
“It’s deeply disappointing that first the Government said a ban wasn’t necessary, and then they chose to play politics and whip their MPs against banning this predatory practice rather than support my amendment and prioritise the safety of women and girls.
“But, what matters now is that everyone will be better protected as we end the normalisation of strangulation which cannot be done safely.
“This deeply violent and misogynistic content is shockingly accessible and had already set an alarming precedent for young girls, who often told me they now expect to be strangled during sex - hopefully this ends, now.”
