LONDON — The U.K. will soon begin enforcement of a new law criminalizing depictions of “non-fatal strangulation” in adult content, according to a Ministry of Justice official.
The U.K.’s Crime and Policing Bill, passed by Parliament in April, made possessing or publishing “pornographic images of strangulation or suffocation” a priority offense under the Online Safety Act (OSA). Possession of such material could lead to up to two years in prison, while publication could result in sentences up to five years. However, enforcement of the new law has remained on hold pending an official start date.
Last month, Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, a Conservative member of the House of Lords, queried the government about when the new law would come into effect. Bertin served as independent lead reviewer on an influential February 2025 report that recommended banning adult content deemed “degrading, violent and misogynistic.” The report lent momentum to the drive toward a “choking” ban, for which Bertin successfully advocated in Parliament.
Lord Gerard Lemos, who serves as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with the Ministry of Justice, responded: “The Government is working with law enforcement and other partners and will bring the remaining provisions into force as quickly as practicable. We are progressing work to bring these offences into force this autumn, balancing speed with operational considerations and wider system impacts. We will clearly communicate to the public when these measures are commenced.”
U.K. media regulator Ofcom, which enforces the Online Safety Act, has been awaiting guidance from the government on exactly how the new provision is to be implemented. It remains unclear what specific criteria might be used for assessing whether an image or video violates the law, whether Ofcom will be the sole investigator/enforcer of the law or if other agencies might be involved, and whether there will be an official procedure or series of steps for investigations and enforcement actions, as has been the case with enforcement of OSA age assurance rules.
The amended Crime and Policing Bill also bans publication or possession of sexual content in which adults portray characters under 16. That provision is also awaiting an enforcement date.
