Prosecution Guidance: Strangulation and Suffocation
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This guidance assists prosecutors in reviewing and preparing cases involving the offences of strangulation and suffocation, as introduced by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. It specifies the relevant legislative framework, key points for prosecution, and factors to consider regarding the acceptability of pleas and sentencing. Additionally, it encompasses the application of these offences in various contexts, including domestic abuse and racially or religiously aggravated scenarios.
Key points
- Prosecutors must follow the Code for Crown Prosecutors in reviewing cases.
- The offence can apply outside of domestic abuse contexts.
- Racially or religiously aggravated elements must be proven for enhanced charges.
- Strangulation does not require injury or intention to kill for prosecution.
- Suffocation may be proven if an act deprives an individual of air affecting breath.
- Victim accounts are crucial for building a prosecution case.
Public-interest factors
- Seriousness of the offence
- Impact on the victim
- Public safety concerns
- Prevalence of domestic violence
- Deterrence of similar future conduct
- Community confidence in legal responses
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.