Freedom of Information on Strangulation and Suffocation Offences

Strangulation and suffocation became a stand-alone offences in England and Wales on 7th June 2022 under the Domestic Abuse Act (2021), and the Serious Crime Act (2015).

Since this legislation was introduced IFAS has requested data from the Home Office pertaining to the number strangulation and suffocation offences recorded by the police.

Below is a breakdown of the data we have received from the Office for National Statistics in the first 6 months of the legislation being introduced (June 2022- December 2022) and from the Home Office via FOI request in the first year of legislation (7th June 2022 – 6th June 2023) and second year of legislation (7th June 2023 – 6th June 2024).

Access all reports below.

First 6 Months: Police Data on Strangulation and Suffocation Offences

Published July 2023 This report provides an overview of the ONS data and our recommendations for further work on monitoring these new offences. All the information included relates to the period between June 2022 to December 2022. https://ifas.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ONS-Data-on-Non-Fatal-Strangulation-Suffocation.pdf

Year 1: Police Data on Strangulation and Suffocation Offences

Published February 2024 The first report in our police data FOI series looks at strangulation and suffocation offences from (7th June 2022 – 6th June 2023) since the legislation was first introduced on 7th June 2022. https://ifas.org.uk/police-data-reports-2024/

Year 2: Police Data on Strangulation and Suffocation Offences

Published February 2025 The second report provides a comparative analysis of the data obtained in Year 1 (7th June 2022 – 6th June 2023) and Year 2 (7th June 2023 – 6th June 2024). https://ifas.org.uk/police-data-on-strangulation-and-suffocation-offences/