UK Domestic Abusers Could Get 5 Years in Jail for Trying to Strangle Partners

A model plays the part of a domestic abuse victim in the shadow of her abuser in London on March 9, 2015. (PA)

Men who strangle their wives or girlfriends without killing them could go to jail for up to five years after new domestic abuse legislation came into force in England and Wales on Tuesday.

The offence of non-fatal strangulation was drawn up after the Ministry of Justice listened to domestic violence survivors who said they were strangled or choked by their abusers as part of their attempts to control or intimidate them.

Research published in the National Library of Medicine in the United States suggests partners are seven times more likely to be murdered if there have been non-fatal strangulation incidents beforehand.

Justice minister in charge of tackling violence against women and girls, Victoria Atkins, said, “This government is determined to tackle abuse in its many forms, make our streets safer and better protect women and girls which is why perpetrators who strangle their partners in this way will now face up to five years behind bars for the torment they have inflicted.”

The legislation came into force in England and Wales on June 7 but will also apply to British nationals abroad, for example if they are on holiday.

Later this week special measures schemes for victims of rape will be extended to 11 more crown courts and victims will be able to pre-record their evidence in order to be spared the trauma of giving evidence.

The scheme is already in use in 26 crown courts and the plan is roll it out nationwide by September.

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, who was appointed in 2019, welcomed the new offence but said she feared it might not be used unless police officers and prosecutors were given more training.

Jacobs said police officers and other professionals need to be able to recognise tell-tale signs of strangulation, which include “bloodshot eyes, or bleeding in the ear or jaw pain or a swollen tongue instead of marks around the neck.”

Kate Brown, lead for domestic abuse prosecutions at the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Our prosecutors are determined to see justice done in every possible case, and where there is sufficient evidence and our legal test is met, we won’t hesitate to prosecute. We are developing training for prosecutors to ensure the offences are properly identified from the outset.”

PA Media contributed to this report.