Strangulation survivor says crime reporting rise is good news

The Institute for Addressing Strangulation, external (IFAS) was created in October 2022 with funding from the Home Office.

Their new impact report, released this week, highlights the UK’s understanding and response to strangulation four years since the law was introduced.

It includes data from police forces which they say shows a 13% increase in reports from the year before, and that there have been 24,446 offences prosecuted by the CPS since the offence was introduced.

Dr Helen Bichard, a principal clinical psychologist with North Wales Brain Injury Service, was involved in the original funding bid which led to the creation of the IFAS.

She said: “I had carried out research in 2020 which I think for the first time really highlighted the impact of strangulation on the brain, which was used by the government in creating the new legislation.”

She said changing the law was amazing but additional action was needed.

“It was almost as if the legalisation had proceeded all the systems that needed to be in place to make sure it’s effective, so that’s why IFAS was created.”

One of those actions is guidelines created for medical professionals as there were none for strangulation in the UK.

“They are a first of its kind, they will save lives – there is no greater impact than that,” said Bichard, adding that it is vital health professionals are aware of the situations and effects caused by strangulation.

“It can be catastrophic, it can cause death that’s why strangulation is used in violence because it is really effective.”