CPS analysis shows children often present during non-fatal strangulation

Analysis conducted by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) shows children were present in more than a third of non-fatal strangulation offences.

The analysis comes six months after new legislation was announced which gave prosecutors additional powers to charge abusers with non-fatal strangulation and non-fatal suffocation as separate offences.

The analysis of a number of CPS cases showed that in 38% of cases of non-fatal strangulation a child was present, with some even being in the same room or subject to abuse while the offending was taking place. It was also revealed that in 69% of cases the victim was the suspect’s partner and 13% of victims were the suspect’s ex-partner.

Kate Brown, Domestic Abuse lead for the CPS, said:

“Victims are left fearing for their life in these cases, and we are clear that we take this offending very seriously. To see so many children exposed to this kind of violence, often against their own mum, must have a huge impact on them. This is something our prosecutors are trained to consider as we’re building our case.

This type of offending doesn’t often happen in isolation, suspects may show aggression and violence, regularly leaving victims with serious physical injuries and psychological trauma. We are working with our partners to ensure that whenever our legal test is met, we are pursuing non-fatal strangulation and suffocation prosecutions and holding these violent offenders to account.”

Cases involving such offences were also shown to lead to further violence as 72% of those found guilty of this were also charged with assault and 13% charged with threats to kill. The CPS have stated prosecutors will continue charging non-fatal strangulation or suffocation where there is sufficient evidence in order to further protect victims and their family from repeated offending.

Bernie Ryan, Chief Executive of the Institute for Addressing Strangulation, said:

“The Institute for Addressing Strangulation welcomes the action taken by the CPS to review these cases 6 months after the introduction of the offence of non-fatal strangulation.

The Institute for Addressing Strangulation will continue to work with the CPS and other agencies to raise awareness of the offence, the risks associated with strangulation and the support available to survivors.”