United Kingdom criminalises possession of specific harmful pornography

The United Kingdom government criminalised the possession and publication of pornographic images depicting sexual strangulation, incest, and sexual activity involving people portrayed as under 16.

These new offences took effect on Friday, November 6, under the Crime and Policing Act 2026. The laws amend the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 to target particularly harmful content. The Ministry of Justice’s Criminal Law Policy Unit stated that the measures address concerns from the Independent Pornography Review by Baroness Bertin.

The review identified pornography that could influence real world attitudes and behaviours. Officials noted that strangulation in sex is becoming more common among young people, and the government aims to stop the normalization of child sexual abuse through the ban on incest themed material. The law applies to realistic images where a reasonable person would believe the people depicted are real. It covers specific family relationships including parents, siblings, and grandparents, as well as certain step and foster family links.

Offenders face up to two or three years in prison for possession, while publishing any of the three categories carries a maximum sentence of five years. Regulated online platforms must now take proactive measures against this material under the Online Safety Act 2023. The Office of Communications, known as Ofcom, will monitor and enforce these rules. The government stated these steps are part of a broader effort to reduce violence against women and girls by half over the next decade.