Violent pornography showing strangulation to be banned
Strangulation in pornography will be banned after a review warned violent depictions have effectively established choking as a 'sexual norm'.
The government has announced plans to make any pornography showing strangulation illegal as part of their pledge to tackle violence against women and girls.
It is already a criminal offence to possess porn depicting life-threatening acts, such as graphic strangulation.
But the government is set to tighten up laws, warning 'dangerous online material is perpetuating the growing epidemic of violence against women and girls'.
It comes after the Independent Porn Review, conducted by Baroness Gabby Bertin, found that media sources have normalised such acts and created a belief that choking a partner during sex is safe because it is non-fatal.
Announcing the changes, minister for victims and tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, said: 'Depicting strangulation during sex is not only dangerous, but also degrading, with real lifeconsequences for women.
'Cracking down on the appalling rise of strangulation pornography will protect women and send a clear signal to men and boys that misogyny will not be tolerated.'
The move was welcomed by Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), who says experts have 'long warned' of the dangers of normalising violence against women in online content.
'There is no such thing as safe strangulation; women cannot consent to the long-term harm it can cause, including impaired cognitive functioning and memory,' she said.
'Its widespread portrayal in porn is fuelling dangerous behaviours, particularly among young people.
'This is a vital step towards recognising the role violent pornography plays in shaping attitudes to women and regulating an industry which promotes and profits from violence against women. The UK's flagship Online Safety Act must now be updated to ensure online platforms are made to remove this content.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
12 minutes ago
- BBC News
Huyton electric bike crash: Arrest after man critically injured
Police have arrested a man after a cyclist was critically injured in a crash with an electric bike.A pedal cyclist in his 40s was taken to hospital with a potentially life-threatening head injury after a collision with a man on a Sur-Ron electric bike in Princess Drive, Huyton, at about 18:30 BST on Monday, Merseyside Police man on the electric bike rode off towards Liverpool Road while the victim was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical but stable condition.A 29-year-old man from Huyton has been detained on suspicion of wounding with intent, driving a vehicle dangerously and failing to stop after a road accident. Det Insp Steve Byrom said: "Although a man has been arrested in connection with the collision, our enquiries continue and we would urge anyone who has information about the incident, who we haven't already spoken to, to please contact us as it may prove vital to the investigation."He said officers were "working hard to disrupt and arrest offenders involved in the illegal and anti-social use of electric bikes".Electrically-assisted pedal cycles (EAPC) can be legally ridden by people aged 14 or over but not on bikes that do not meet the EAPC rules are classed as a motorcycle or moped with users having to meet certain legal requirements. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Telegraph
13 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Environment Secretary steps up plans to nationalise Thames Water
The Environment Secretary has said the Government is stepping up plans to temporarily nationalise Thames Water after a US rescue bid collapsed. Steve Reed confirmed to Parliament on Thursday that ministers were ready to save the struggling utility giant if necessary. A rescue would be in the form of a taxpayer-backed special administration scheme. He said: 'The company remains financially stable, but we've stepped up our preparations and stand ready for all eventualities, as I've said before, including a special administration regime if that were to become necessary.' A government intervention appears increasingly likely after US private equity giant KKR abandoned a bid for the company. Thames's creditors have proposed an alternative £17bn rescue plan but it is contingent on regulators agreeing to waive historical fines. They have been pushing for ministers to intervene on the matter. Mr Reed signalled this would not happen, casting doubt over hopes of a private sector-led solution. He said: 'Thames Water must meet its statutory and regulatory obligations to their customers and to the environment. It is only right that the company is subject to the same consequences as any other water company.' Taking control of Thames would pile further strain on the Government's stretched finances. A previous report estimated that a state bailout would cost the taxpayer up to £4.1bn. Thames, which has 16m customers across London and the South East, has been pushed to the brink of collapse as it struggles under the weight of £16bn in debts. Creditors have said that a 'regulatory reset' is needed to ensure the company is financially viable. A source close to the lenders said they were urging regulators 'not to reach back into history' and instead focus on Thames Water's turnaround efforts moving forward. A senior figure involved in the talks told The Telegraph last week: 'I think what it takes is the Government and the regulator coming together – it needs the Environment Department, the Treasury, and even No 10 to say, 'What's the least worst outcome here?'' Thames Water was handed a record fine of £123m in May and the company could be on the hook for more than £1bn in pollution and environmental failing penalties in future, according to creditors. The £17bn support package proposed by creditors includes writing off several billion pounds of debt and an immediate £3bn cash injection. If their deal falls apart, special administration is the most likely outcome for Thames. A spokesman for the creditors said: 'This investor group is committed to working with the Government and regulators to agree a pragmatic plan that recognises what Thames Water can realistically deliver and they expect to be held accountable for an ambitious trajectory for the company's return to compliance. 'More than £10bn would be written off to get the company back to investment grade, expected to be the largest financial loss on an infrastructure asset in British history.'
Daily Mail
14 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Starmer warns Trump not to 'ramp up' Middle East turmoil by joining Israel's attacks on Iran - as PM faces decision on allowing US to use British base to bomb Iran
Keir Starmer today warned Donald Trump against 'ramping up' the turmoil in the Middle East by committing US forced to help Israel attack Iran. The Prime Minister repeated his call for de-escalation in the region, saying concerns about Tehran's nuclear programme were best dealt 'by way of negotiations than by way of conflict'. Trump has had the world guessing his next month after telling reporters outside the White House he was considering strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. He said: 'I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' Israel and Iran have been exchanging fire for days after Benjamin Netanyahu announced a campaign to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Downing Street this morning said 'de-escalation is the priority, and we would not want to see anything that ramps up the situation.' And the PM later warned that fighting in the world's main oil-producing region would have a devastating impact on the global economy. 'There's a real risk of escalation here that will impact the region, possibly beyond the region, akin to Gaza, and obviously it's already having an impact on the economy,' Sir Keir said. 'So I've been absolutely clear we need to de-escalate this. Yes, the nuclear issue has to be dealt with, but it's better dealt with by way of negotiations than by way of conflict.' Despite his pleas for détente, Sir Keir could have to give the green light for US bombers to use the Diego Garcia military base for strikes on Iran. Keir Starmer could have to give the green light for US bombers to use the Diego Garcia military base for strikes on Iran Reports suggest that B-2 stealth bombers would use the Chagos Islands airbase if they are brought in to target an enrichment plant deep under a mountain. There are concerns that would leave UK assets and personnel facing reprisals, with RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus a potential target. More jets have been moved into the region to bolster security. With the situation on a knife edge, David Lammy will hold talks with the US secretary of state Marco Rubio in Washington later. After seeing Mr Trump at a G7 summit in Canada earlier this week, Sir Keir insisted that he did not think the US was on the verge of joining the operations against Iran. But the premier convened an emergency Cobra meeting yesterday to take stock of diplomatic efforts and UK support for British nationals in the region. There are claims that Attorney General Lord Hermer has been advising that the UK can only legally take part in military actions to defend allies. The Prime Minister would not be drawn on those reports, saying: 'the Attorney's advice is never disclosed by any government, but I can tell you the principle, the driving intent, which is that de-escalation.' Iranian officials insist the country's nuclear programme is peaceful, and claim Israel has caused hundreds of civilian casualties. A previous deal to limit Iran's enrichment of uranium was torn up by Mr Trump during his first presidency because he regarded it as too weak. The Israeli military has urged residents to evacuate the area around the Arak heavy water reactor, about 155 miles south west of the capital. Iranian state television said the reactor had been attacked, but had been evacuated and there was 'no radiation danger whatsoever'. The Soroka Medical Centre in Beer Sheba, the main hospital in southern Israel, received 'extensive damage' after being hit by an Iranian missile, according to a spokesperson for the hospital. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected Mr Trump's call for surrender and warned American military involvement would result in 'irreparable damage'. Nuclear talks with Iran and senior diplomats from the UK, Germany and France as well as the EU will take place in Geneva tomorrow. In his comments outside the White House, Mr Trump had suggested the US could still hold talks with Iran. 'I can tell you this, Iran has got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate,' he said. He said 'it's very late to be talking', but 'we may meet'. Under the recently agreed deal to hand back the Chagos Islands, the UK leases the DIego Garcia base from Mauritius, while the US pays for its operating costs. Sir Keir had played down the prospect of US intervention, telling reporters at the G7 that 'nothing' he had heard from the president suggested Washington was poised to get involved. Asked yesterday whether the Prime Minister was confident that Mr Trump would not involve US forces in the conflict, a No10 spokesman said the UK's position was still that 'we want to de-escalate rather than escalate'. The US State Department has started evacuating non-essential diplomats and their families from the American embassy in Israel. The US is also making plans for evacuation flights and ships for private citizens, the country's ambassador to Israel said. The UK's Foreign Office has evacuated family members of embassy staff from Israel, but has not advised British nationals to leave the country. The department said the evacuation was temporary and a 'precautionary measure', with staff remaining at the embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate in Jerusalem. Britons have already been advised against all travel to Israel and those already in the country have been urged to register their presence with the embassy. The Foreign Office has also said land borders with Jordan and Egypt remain open, and consular teams are in position to provide assistance to British nationals who choose to leave Israel by land. Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer said: 'Our first job is to keep British nationals safe, and our dedicated teams in the region are working around the clock to do this. 'We are asking all British nationals in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to register their presence so that we can share our updates with them and make sure we're giving them the best advice possible.'
