Three Porn Categories Face New UK Bans Starting Tomorrow
The Crime and Policing Bill makes possession or publication of specific sexual content a criminal offense effective Nov. 6.
By Amina Yusuf ·
New UK criminal laws targeting specific types of pornography take effect on Nov. 6. The measures aim to stop the normalization of violence against women and girls by making it a crime to possess or publish material depicting strangulation, suffocation, or simulated incest.
The changes are part of the Crime and Policing Bill. They also ban content where an adult pretends to be a child under 16. Alex Davies-Jones, the Minister for Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, described the issue as an epidemic of horrific behavior. She said the laws will stop perpetrators from hiding behind a screen and abusing others with impunity.
Strangulation and suffocation scenes have become common in adult films. A study by the Institute for Addressing Strangulation found that more than two in five sexually active under-18s in the UK have been strangled or strangled someone during sex. More than half of under-35s have experienced the act as well. Vicky Young, head of Stop It Now for the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, noted that young viewers might mistake these violent behaviors for normal relationship dynamics without understanding the physical risks.
Under the new rules, possessing or publishing porn that shows strangulation or suffocation carries a penalty of up to two years in prison. Davies-Jones clarified that the goal is not to criminalize harmless sexual preferences. She stated that content normalizing or glorifying violence against women can blur the line between acceptable behavior in real life and fantasy.
The bill also addresses the depiction of young adults. It is now an imprisonable offense to possess or share pornography showing an adult pretending to be a child under 16. This carries a maximum sentence of three years. Davies-Jones supported a recent petition from teens to ban school uniforms in porn, arguing that pornography must never normalize the sexual abuse of children.
Students raised concerns about a potential gray area regarding performers aged 16 to 18 if school uniforms remain legal. However, the minister emphasized that the ban targets content that depicts an adult pretending to be a child under 16. Vicky Young added that the ban could help prevent the escalation of viewing habits that often lead people to illegal images of children.
The final category covers incestuous depictions. The ban applies whether the performers are actually related or not. It includes portrayals of step-family relationships, a change made after the measure was first announced in February. Baroness Bertin noted during a House of Lords debate that 4.1 billion videos featuring incest-related scenarios were viewed on Pornhub in 2024.
Possessing porn showing incest is punishable by up to two years in prison. Publishing it carries a sentence of up to five years. Previously, it was only a crime if the incest actually took place. Davies-Jones cited a case where a father viewed such content and posted elaborate stories of abusing his daughter online, illustrating the real-world harm linked to the material.
