"Kate Brown, the CPS's lead prosecutor for domestic abuse, said that previously there had been a lot of cases for which it didn't seem like we had the right offence, and the new legislation marked a significant shift in recognising the serious nature of the offence."
"Suffocation and strangulation carries a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment, whereas previously, except for the most serious cases which could be charged as grievous bodily harm or attempted murder, prosecutors were having to charge offenders with common assault, which carries a much lesser maximum sentence of six months."
"What we know from victims is it can be absolutely terrifying that they genuinely believe that at the time they're being strangled, this is it, that they may die, Brown said."
Charges for strangulation and suffocation in England and Wales have risen sharply since the offence was introduced under the Domestic Abuse Act 2022, closing a gap in existing law and increasing sentencing powers. The offence now carries a maximum five-year sentence, replacing frequent prosecutions as common assault with a six-month maximum except in the most serious cases charged as grievous bodily harm or attempted murder. CPS data show charges rose from 1,483 in 2022-23 to 8,545 in 2024-25, with 2,656 recorded in the first quarter of 2025-26. Regional spikes include London, the north-west, and Yorkshire and Humberside. Victims report that strangulation can be terrifying and life-threatening.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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