03-05-2025
MPs calling for ban on choking in pornography as they warn the aggressive act is being ‘glamourised'
Choking in pornography could be banned with MPs expressing concerns the act is being 'glamourised'.
An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill seeks to include 'non-fatal strangulation' in its definition of extreme pornography.
The move would ban choking in porn and comes amid worries such content has fuelled rising male misogyny.
It follows suggestions from Baroness Bertin's Independent Pornography Review.
Shadow victims minister Alicia Kearns said: 'To tackle violence against women and girls, we must tackle porn that promotes violent and misogynistic behaviour towards us. Porn has helped to glamourise strangulation, which has led to significant numbers of young people being non-consensually choked during sex and girls told this is a normal expectation.'
Last month the Times reported that sex education materials taught to teenagers in schools in Wales included references to asking for consent before choking a partner. The content, funded by Bridgend county borough council, was described by London's victims' commissioner Claire Waxman as 'deeply concerning'.
The amendment to ban chocking in pornography, which is due to be discussed by MPs in the committee stage of the Bill, follows recommendations from Baroness Bertin's Independent Pornography Review.
Tory MP Harriet Cross said: 'Strangulation should never be normalised. Too often, pornography blurs the lines between what is and can be consented to, and when this slides into dangerous or even abusive acts.
'The impact on those viewing extreme pornography, especially in the young, and being exposed to behaviours such as strangulation and the distorted perception this can give to what is normal in terms of sexual activity or relationships must be addressed. This amendment seeks to classify non-fatal strangulation in these terms.'
