People in England and Wales could face prison sentences for keeping certain pornographic images on their phones or computers from November 6, as the government moves to criminalise content depicting strangulation, suffocation, incest and adults pretending to be children under 16 in sexual scenarios.
The new offences, which also target the publication and distribution of such material, mark a shift in the UK’s approach to extreme pornography by extending criminal liability beyond those who produce or circulate the content to people who possess specified images.
According to a BBC report, the changes follow a 2025 review that found depictions of choking were widespread on popular pornography websites and warned that such material could influence young people’s understanding of sexual relationships.
The review was led by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin, who said the new measures would send a clear message to online platforms and society that content capable of encouraging real-life harm would not be accepted.
Baroness Bertin cited the case of a 14-year-old boy who asked a teacher how to choke girls during sex, warning that young people who imitate behaviour portrayed in pornography could face devastating consequences.
Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the legislation was not intended to criminalise harmless sexual preferences but to address content that normalises violence against women and distorts young people’s understanding of healthy relationships.
Under the new provisions, publishing the prohibited material could attract a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment. Possession of images depicting adults pretending to be under 16 in sexual situations could attract up to three years, while possession of material depicting strangulation, suffocation or specified incestuous sexual activity could carry up to two years.
The government says publication offences could cover uploading, posting or otherwise making the material available online. Possession could include keeping the images on a personal device or in cloud storage.
The legislation also covers certain sexual depictions involving step-relatives or foster-relatives where one person is portrayed as under 18.
The measures were introduced through amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which became law in April, following concerns that existing laws against non-consensual strangulation did not criminalise the online depiction of the act itself.
Professor Clare McGlynn, a law professor at Durham University who has researched extreme pornography, welcomed the full implementation of the provisions, describing them as a possible turning point in efforts to challenge the normalisation of sexual violence.
However, she warned that the law’s impact would depend partly on how quickly technology companies and regulators identify, restrict and remove prohibited material.
She argued that the objective should extend beyond prosecuting individuals to changing the online pornography environment, placing significant responsibility on platforms that host or facilitate access to the content.
The November 6 commencement date will therefore test how the new offences are enforced and whether the threat of criminal penalties prompts platforms and users to change their handling of the prohibited material.
