Pornography showing strangulation and incest to be banned in UK from early November

Pornography that depicts strangulation and incestuous relationships will be banned from early November, the UK government has announced.

The content will be outlawed from 6 November after cross-party pressure prompted ministers to announce new legislation earlier this year.

Online pornography depicting strangulation or suffocation, sex between people who are related or pretending to be related, or when somebody is pretending to be a child under 16, will be illegal.

The justice minister, Alex Davies-Jones, said: “This isn’t about criminalising harmless sexual preferences. But porn can shape what people think a healthy relationship looks like, especially young people.

“Content that normalises, or even glorifies, violence against women is dangerous and can blur the line with what is acceptable in real life.”

The Conservative peer Gabby Bertin made the recommendations in her review into pornography regulation which reported in 2025.

Her report found pornography that shows women being choked can have “devastating” real-world consequences. It highlighted “disturbing” role-play, including incest and adults portraying children. Both will be banned.

The report said there had been a “total absence of government scrutiny” of the pornography industry.

Non-fatal strangulation is already an offence in its own right, but it is not illegal to show it online.

Reacting to the announcement, Lady Bertin said: “It is very good news these offences will come into force, and not a moment too soon.

“This change in law alongside better enforcement and stronger regulation will send the unequivocal signal not only to the companies that host and facilitate porn but also to wider society that extreme and violent content that encourages real-life harm is not acceptable.”

The End Violence Against Women Coalition campaign group welcomed the ban, urging ministers to ensure it is enforced.

Its interim director, Janaya Walker, said: “This is an important step towards tackling the normalisation of violence against women and girls, and the result of years of campaigning by EVAW and other experts who have raised concerns about the impact of violent pornography.

“Strangulation can cause serious, lasting harm and even death, yet its widespread portrayal in pornography risks normalising this violence in sexual relationships, particularly among young people.

“The introduction of this offence is an important recognition of the harm caused by violent pornography and the need to hold an industry accountable for content that depicts and profits from violence against women and girls.

“The government must now ensure the ban is effectively enforced, and update the Online Safety Act so that online platforms are required to remove this content.”