On 7th June 2022, non-fatal strangulation became a criminal offence. It also includes suffocation and drowning and there is no time limit to report any offence occurring on or after 7th June 2022. You can read more about this here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-non-fatal-strangulation-offence-comes-into-force
Why do you need to know about strangulation?
Because I have heard many women over the years talk about this. Women from all walks of life. Women who have endured strangulation within a pattern of physical abuse, women who haven’t recognised it as strangulation until I have opened their eyes to the danger. It often becomes normal for them, or they disclose it flippantly without realising how dangerous it was, because it only happened briefly and because he stopped (only 6% of abusers stop of their own accord).
Why does it need to be a criminal offence on it’s own?
You may wonder why this has specifically been brought in as a criminal offence in it’s own right – well it is because it is SO dangerous. Strangulation, choking, choke holding ,whatever you choose to call it, cuts off the airway. Suffocation, putting a hand over your mouth, a pillow over your face, holding your head under water, etc are also considered within this offence, as they are all acts intended to block the airway or limit the ability to breathe. It is now punishable by up to 5 years in prison and it is the second most common way that women die within the context of abusive relationships.
It is much more common than many people think, so if this has happened to you, you are not alone. Don’t be ashamed, embarrassed or feel like you have to protect your partner/ex if they have done this to you. People who do this are trying to shock, to bully and to frighten and of course, sometimes to kilI. It may occur once as a punishment for something you said or did, or regularly as a reminder of who is in control and who is in charge.
It is extremely dangerous – I can’t stress this enough. Having listened to some recent training by the https://www.strangulationtraininginstitute.com/ there is no doubt that it is dangerous. You may not have any visible injuries but there may be underlying trauma that can lead to stroke and the more times it happens, the more dangerous it is. If it has happened to you, even if it was a few days ago, even if you have no external injuries, ask your GP to refer you for a scan of your neck so they can check for internal injuries.
Get help now
If you have been strangled once, it is once too often. Get help now. If you are worried about your immediate safety, contact police or contact your local domestic abuse organisation or contact me for advice on your options and ensure you no longer have to put your life at risk for someone else.
