Strangulation can be defined as ‘obstruction or compression of blood vessels and/or airways by external pressure to the neck impeding normal breathing or circulation of the blood. Non-fatal
strangulation is where such strangulation has not directly caused the death of the victim‘ (Ifas.org.uk).

Strangulation is a very personal and intimate act of violence, and is catergorised as gender-based violence because statistics show that women are predominately the victims of strangulation and/or suffocation. The person administering the asphyxiation can render a victim unconcious within seconds as it only takes 11 pounds of pressure to cut-off the victims blood flow. Temporary or permanent brain damage can occur in as little as 30 seconds and brain death is imminent after 4–5 minutes of applied strangulation.

• It takes 4.4 pounds of force to compress jugular vein.
• It takes 11 pounds of force to compress the carotid artery. 
• It takes 33 pounds of force to compress the trachea.
• It takes 18–66 pounds of force to compress the vertebral arteries.

The act of strangulation is a tactic used by an abuser that expresses to the victim their ability and willingness to take their lives at any time. It’s yet, another form of control and abuse that no man nor women should ever be the victim of. Strangulation/s are often the result of escalating IPV (intimate partner violence), however, although rare, incidences of stranger strangulations do happen.

• Strangulation & Suffocation were introduced in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
• There were 23,817 reports of suffocation and strangulation in England and Wales within the first year it became an offence.
• The Femicide Concencus of 2025, revealed that 27% of female homicide victims die by strangulation or asphyxiation.
• In England & Wales between April 2010 and March 2021, 18% of homicide victims were female and killed by asphyxiation and/or strangulation. This is significantly higher than the 9% of male victim’s killed by the same method.
• CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) statistics show that charges of strangulation rose from 1,483 in 2022–2023 to 8,545 in 2024–2025.
• 9 in 10 incidents of strangulation are related to domestic abuse.
• Strangulation often co-occurs with sexual offences, coersive control and image-based abuse.
• Between Oct 2019-Oct 2020, 25% of domestic-related homicides were caused by strangulation.
• Adult female victim’s (16 or over) were most commonly killed by a partner or an ex-partner (40%).
• Men are less likely to be the victims of domestic-related homicide.
• Over 2/3 of domestic-homicides were women (68%) and 1/3 were men (32%).
• An estimated 20,000 victim’s in the UK experience strangulation each year.
• It’s estimated that only 50% of victim’s that experience strangulation will have visible injuries.
• The Crime and Policing act 2026 established new offences relating to the ‘possession and publication of pornographic images depicting strangulation‘ (IFAS).
• From March 2010-March 2020, strangulation or asphyxiation was ‘consistently the 2nd most frequent cause of homicide for women killed by men‘ (ifas).
• 20% of suicides following IPV (intimate partner violence)/domestic abuse had suffered non-fatal strangulation (NFS) prior to their deaths.
• There were 1,974 strangulation and asphyxiation offences recorded in Northern Ireland within the first two years of the legislation.
• Since strangulation was introduced as a standalone offence, there has been an 87% rise in recorded reports to the police.
• There were 44,426 recorded strangulation offences in England & Wales since 2024–2025.
• 43% of people killed by strangulation were subjected to non-fatal strangulation prior to their death. (Domestic Abuse Death Related Review)

If a person is capable of carrying out the act of strangulation, it highlights the dangerousness of that individual. When strangulation is used on a victim of domestic abuse/violence, it’s often a precursor to more lethal violence, and it’s suggested that you’re 750% more likely to be killed in the future by the person who has strangled you. This shows the severity and dangerousness of the this type of violence, it’s deadly.

“Strangulations are rarely isolated incidents. Victims are often subjected to sustained physical and psychological abuse, causing long-lasting harm and destroying lives. This must end now“.

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves MP

Strangulation…

• Is high–risk, gender–based violence.
• Is associated with unequal power dynamics.
• Non–Fatal Strangulation is prevelant among young people (during consensual sex).
• Strangulation/s often occur/s as a result of constant and concurrent IPV (intimate partner violence).
• Non-Fatal Strangulation is a tactic used to exert coersion and control.
• Statistics show that strangulation during sex is common.
• The threat of strangulation can ‘enforce silence and shape behaviour‘ (IFAS).
• Does not require access to a weapon.
• NFS is prevelant were the perpertrator is a partner or an ex–partner.
• The ability to remember/recall strangulation may/can be delayed.
• Not all victim’s/survivors will report it.

“Strangulation is a terrifying form of abuse and control that often signals escalating violence and extreme risk to victim’s“.

Kate Brown

The Influence of the Media….

The influence the media has on us can be far reaching. It’s able to distort our views and warp our minds, and this is nowhere more so evident than when it comes to violence, sexual violence, and the abuse of women. The media has this “fantastical” way of glamourising, sexualising, and sensationalising this gendered–based violence of women, including sexual assault, rape, strangulation and suffocation etc, it portrays this violence and male–dominance over women as something exciting, consequently, creating a ‘fetishization’.. This distorted depiction of these types of violations and abuses of women, and it’s variations on what it should look and feel like (for the victim), only lends to the notion of the ‘patriarchal system/ideology’…that women are insignificant compared to men, and only here for their entertainment and pleasure, therefore, by these standards, women are almost certainly expected to experience violence and sexual violence by men.

Our constant exposure to violent scenes of non–fatal strangulation and violence against woman blurs societies definition of what is, and what’s not, acceptable attitudes and behaviours towards women.

There also seems to be a running theme in film, music, and on tv. It’s often that we see or hear of women being attacked and strangled by strangers, however, the reality is, that attacks by strangers are rather rare. We are more likely to be attacked and strangled by someone we know, usually by a partner or an ex–partner, or a family member or friend.

NFS…

• Is sensationalised in the media (film, music, tv, literature etc).
• The media eroticises NFS creating a ‘fetishization’.
• The media negatively inflence’s our understanding and perceptions of strangulation & suffocation, and the victim’s/survivor’s of it.
• The media conveys male-dominance over women, and non-fatal strangulation & suffoction as something women desire.

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Suffocation

Suffocation can be defined as ‘the use of unlawful force on a victim, whether intentionally or recklessly, that affects the victim’s ability to breathe‘ (IFAS).

Non-Fatal Suffocation;

• Compessing the chest.
• Putting a hand over mouth or nose.
• Any other force or suppression applied to a person to cause a restriction of breathe.

Studies show that a victim will go through one or more of the following during an attack;

Disbelief: The victim cannot believe they were/are being strangled/suffocated (very short in duration).

Primal: The victim fights with whatever means to stop the strangling/suffocation.

Resignation: The victim gives up feeling they can do nothing and go limp.

“Setting the stage, ensuring that the victim knows he can or will kill them“.

Thomas and Collegues

The act of suffocation and strangulation is a method used by the perpertrator to control, injure and/or kill their victim. After the attack, some injuries may be IMMEDIEATELY visible, whereas others are not;

Immediate Visible Injuries	Invisible Injuries
. Bruising and/or swelling of the neck . Blood-red eyes . Petechiae (red spots) . Cord or rope burns . Scratches (self-inflicted, trying to free yourself from ligature) . Swollen lips . Seizures . Voice changes . Speech disorders	. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) . Swelling to the throat . Laryngeal/voice box dislodged . Haematoma . Fractured neck bone . Chest pains . Airway obstruction Blood clot . Anxiety . Sleep problems . Emotional numbness Difficulty concentrating . Brain injury . Depression . Suicidal ideation . Hyperarousal (hypervigillance, irritability) . Arterial dissection . Weakness/numbness . Self-Harm . Destructive behaviours . Delayed death

Having being the survivor of strangulation and suffocation myself, i can say without hesitation, that this is a terrifying ordeal. Having to stare my would be killer in the eyes as he squeezed the life from me was, and is, the single most horrfying thing that as ever happened to me. I still feel his hands around my neck and the pillows over my face. I still see his evil, psychotic gaze as the life slipped from my body. This is and event that will stay with me forever, and i wish for nothing more than to protect other potential victims from suffering the same fate me and so many other unfortunate men and women have.

Many people have no idea about the harm and risk associated with non–fatal strangulation and suffocation, therefore, we must create more awareness about this type of violence so that we can inspire and evoke change. The Institue For Addressing Strangulation was established in 2022 with the aim of creating more awareness about the prevelance of strangulation in England and Wales, and the risks and danger associated with it. Creating this awareness allows us to enhance our response to it and also helps us support victims/survivors of NFS, and offer them the appropriate tools and mechanisms to aid and guide them into recovery.

If you find yourself in a situation like this (victim/survivor of strangulation and/or suffocation) and you’re lucky enough to survive it, YOU MUST INFORM THE POLICE (999) as soon as it’s SAFE for you to do–so. To strangle or suffocate someone is not acceptable on any level, it’s a violent and disturbing act that can seriously harm, injure, and/or kill a person, and to be able to hold a pillow over someone’s face or to look the victim in their eyes as they suffer and struggle to breathe is just unconscionable. The perpertrator literally has the victims life in their hands, and i find it really shocking how common these vile methods are used in toxic relationship’s as a way to coerce and control their partners.