Britain bans 'dangerous and degrading' porn in bid to make major change to behaviour

The government is set to criminalise a common act depicted in pornography amid the growing epidemic of violence against women and girls.

When it comes to domestic abuse, a call gets made to the police every 30 seconds in England and Wales, according to the National Centre for Domestic Violence.

Two out of three victims tend to be female, as women are more likely than men to experience repeat abuse, leading to physical injuries or being killed. In the last year, 1.7 million women and 699,000 men were victims of domestic abuse.

It comes after an Independent Porn Review by Baroness Gabby Bertin found that media sources such as porn have been depicting strangulation, or choking, promoting it as a ‘norm’ during sex.

Bertin said that evidence has suggested there is no safe way to strangle a person and that men who are doing it believe it to be safe.

Pornography depicting choking is set to be made illegal through the Crime and Policing Bill (Getty Stock Images)

"Non-fatal strangulation pornography (commonly known as ‘choking’ in pornography) should be illegal to possess, distribute, and publish," the government’s Independent Porn Review reads.

"Non-fatal strangulation or 'choking' sex is perhaps the starkest example of where online violent pornography has changed 'offline' behaviour."

Alex Davies-Jones, the Minister for Violence Against Women and Girls, said choking during sex has 'real life consequences for women'.

She believes it's not only 'dangerous', but also very 'degrading' towards women.

Domestic violence includes both physical and sexual abuse (Getty Stock Images)

"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 MP said.

Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), added: "We welcome the government’s decision to criminalise the depiction of strangulation in pornography, a move that reflects years of campaigning by EVAW and other experts who have long warned about the normalisation of violence against women and girls in online content."

Simon reaffirmed that 'there is no such thing as safe strangulation' and that 'women cannot consent to the long-term harm it can cause, including impaired cognitive functioning and memory'.

The government is set to criminalise the act of strangling in pornography (Getty Stock Images)

"Its widespread portrayal in porn is fuelling dangerous behaviours, particularly among young people," she said.

"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 amendment will be made to the Crime and Policing Bill, which is central to the government’s Plan for Change and making the justice system stronger for victims.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence to the national domestic violence helpline Refuge on 0808 2000 247, available 24/7, or via live chat, available 10am-10pm, Monday to Friday.