The government has unveiled a series of amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill aimed at strengthening protections for women and girls, including tougher action on online abuse and
violent pornography.
Under the proposals, announced on Monday, victims of intimate image abuse will have up to three years to report an offence — a significant increase from the current six-month window. Ministers say the extended time limit will remove barriers that often prevent victims from coming forward, giving them additional space to seek support and pursue justice.
The amendments form part of the Government’s broader Plan for Change, which pledges to halve violence against women and girls.
“Online misogyny has devastating real-life consequences,” said Alex Davies-Jones, Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls. “Every day, women and girls have their lives turned upside down by cowards who hide behind screens. We will not stand by while women are violated online and exposed to violent pornography that normalises harm.”
A separate amendment targets the growing prevalence of violent pornographic content. The government plans to criminalise not only the publication but also the possession of pornographic images that depict strangulation or suffocation — material that an independent review, led by Baroness Bertin, found has helped make such behaviour appear “sexually normal,” particularly among young people.
Tech Secretary Liz Kendall condemned the content as “vile and dangerous,” adding that those who share such material contribute to “a culture of violence and abuse that has no place in our society.”
The amendments also give regulators more power to hold technology platforms accountable. Depictions of strangulation will be classed as a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, requiring platforms to prevent the circulation of illegal content. Measures could include automated detection tools, stricter moderation systems, and more robust content policies designed to stop harmful material before it spreads.
Ministers say the changes represent another step in the government’s effort to ensure women and girls can navigate online spaces without fear of abuse, exploitation or escalating violence. Photo by he Naughty American / Larry Knowles, Wikimedia commons.