Islington Council welcomes national ban on choking porn as it takes effect 6 Nov 2026
The new law makes possession or publication of choking‑related pornography illegal, while the borough’s specialist service reports 288 referrals in its first three years.
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The Crime and Policing Act 2026 will, from 6 November 2026, criminalise anyone who possesses or publishes pornography that depicts choking or incest, as reported by MyLondon. The legislation follows a 2025 government review that identified widespread choking videos on mainstream platforms.
Background to the national prohibition
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The 2025 review, led by Conservative peer Baroness Bertin, concluded that choking imagery normalises the act among young people and contributes to broader social harms. The review recommended that ministers make such material illegal, a recommendation that was incorporated into the 2026 Act. The Act also extends illegality to images of adults role‑playing as children under 16.
Islington Council’s local response
Islington Council’s Cabinet Lead for Community Safety, Cllr Heather Staff, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the ban is "bold, albeit necessary", as reported by MyLondon. She linked the legislation to the council’s own multi‑agency clinical service, which launched in July as the UK’s first specialist vascular pathway for victims of non‑fatal strangulation and suffocation.
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It has never been clearer that violence in pornography is linked to devastating real‑life harm
Cllr Heather Staff, Islington Council
The service, developed with more than 60 partner agencies, provides rapid medical assessment and has enabled clinicians to detect health issues that survivors might otherwise miss. According to Cllr Staff, the pathway has recorded 288 referrals in the three years since its pilot began, as reported by MyLondon.
Enforcement and what it means for residents
Police forces across England and Wales will be tasked with investigating breaches of the new law. Online platforms are expected to remove prohibited content promptly to avoid liability. Residents who encounter illegal material can report it to their local police or through the Internet Watch Foundation.
The West and North London Integrated Care Board said non‑fatal strangulation is increasingly recognised as a serious public health and safeguarding issue, reinforcing the need for both legal and health‑service responses, as reported by MyLondon.
The ban does not affect consensual adult activity that does not involve choking imagery. Legal advice services have been alerted to the change and will update their guidance for clients who may be uncertain about the new boundaries.
The next formal step is the commencement of enforcement on 6 November 2026. The council will monitor the impact of the ban on local health referrals and will publish an update after the first six months.
Questions this report answers
+When does the ban on choking pornography take effect?
The ban becomes enforceable on 6 November 2026. From that date, possessing or publishing pornography that shows choking or incest will be a criminal offence in England and Wales, according to the Crime and Policing Act 2026.
+How many referrals has Islington’s specialist service recorded?
Islington Council’s multi‑agency clinical service has recorded 288 referrals for non‑fatal strangulation victims in its first three years, as reported by MyLondon. The figure reflects the service’s role in identifying health impacts that survivors might otherwise miss.
+What did the council say about the new ban?
Cllr Heather Staff, Islington Council’s Cabinet Lead for Community Safety, described the ban as "bold, albeit necessary" and linked it to the council’s efforts to address real‑life harm caused by choking pornography, as reported by MyLondon.
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