New Online Safety Laws from 6 November 2026: What You Need to Know About Harmful Sexual Content
From 6 November 2026, possessing or publishing certain types of harmful pornography will become a criminal offence in England and Wales.
The changes, introduced through the Crime and Policing Act 2026, are intended to address sexual content that depicts and potentially normalises harmful or illegal behaviour, including strangulation, suffocation and child sexual abuse.
The Ministry of Justice has published new guidance explaining the offences and what individuals must do before the legislation comes into force but beyond the legal changes, this announcement raises important safeguarding questions.
How do we challenge the normalisation of sexual violence?
Are children and young people receiving appropriate education about harmful sexual content?
Do organisations understand the relationship between online content, attitudes towards consent and potentially abusive behaviour?
At RLB, we believe these are important conversations for safeguarding professionals, educators, employers, parents and organisations working with children and adults.
1. What is changing on 6 November 2026?
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 introduces new criminal offences relating to the possession and publication of specified categories of pornography.
From 6 November 2026, it will become a criminal offence in England and Wales to possess or publish pornographic images that explicitly and realistically depict:
Strangulation or suffocation
Pornographic material showing one person strangling or suffocating another.
This includes depictions of pressure being applied to someone's neck or actions that restrict their ability to breathe.
Sexual activity between certain relatives
Pornographic material depicting specified penetrative sexual activity between people who appear to be, or are pretending to be, closely related.
The offences also cover certain step-family and foster-family relationships where one person is, or is portrayed as being, under 18.
Sexual activity involving someone portrayed as under 16
Pornographic material depicting sexual activity where at least one person appears to be, or is pretending to be, under the age of 16.
This includes scenarios involving adults roleplaying as children.
Importantly, the offences concern material that meets the specific statutory criteria, including the requirement for the depictions to appear realistic.
The changes do not make all pornography illegal. They criminalise the possession and publication of particular categories of harmful material.
Source: Ministry of Justice — Crime and Policing Act 2026: Offences relating to pornography
2. What does possession or publication actually mean?
One important aspect of the new legislation is that it applies to both possessing and publishing prohibited material.
The government's guidance explains that possession may include having custody or control of an image.
Depending on the circumstances, this could include material:
Saved to a phone, tablet or computer.
Stored in personal files or folders.
Retained within an online account.
Kept in cloud storage.
Otherwise held physically or digitally.
Publication includes making an image available to another person. This may include uploading, posting, sending, sharing or distributing prohibited material.
The law is not limited to people creating or commercially distributing harmful pornography. Possessing or sharing material covered by the offences can also have criminal consequences.
The legislation includes specific statutory defences, including provisions relevant to unsolicited material, lack of knowledge and legitimate reasons for possession or publication. Whether an offence has been committed will depend on the legal requirements and circumstances of the individual case.
3. What should people do before 6 November?
The Ministry of Justice has made clear that possession and publication can be continuing acts and this means that material already held or made available may become unlawful to possess or continue publishing when the offences commence.
Individuals who knowingly possess material covered by the new offences should permanently delete or otherwise dispose of it before 6 November.
Where prohibited material has been published or made available to others, the government advises that it must be removed and publication stopped before commencement. However, an important safeguarding distinction is needed. Where material may involve actual child sexual abuse, exploitation or another criminal offence, individuals should not simply delete potential evidence without seeking appropriate advice.
Existing laws concerning child sexual abuse material already apply. Safeguarding professionals who encounter potentially illegal material should follow organisational procedures and appropriate reporting routes, rather than downloading, copying or circulating it.
Where there is an immediate risk of harm, contact the police. For concerns about online child sexual abuse material, organisations should follow relevant safeguarding procedures and use appropriate specialist reporting mechanisms.
4. Why is pornography depicting strangulation particularly concerning?
The inclusion of strangulation and suffocation is a significant aspect of the legislation. Non-fatal strangulation and suffocation are recognised forms of serious violence, particularly in the context of domestic abuse and sexual violence. They can cause significant physical harm and may be associated with coercion, intimidation and controlling behaviour.
The government has raised concerns about the potential influence of pornography that depicts these acts as part of sexual activity.
This creates an important distinction between what someone may see presented as normal or desirable online and the very real risks associated with such behaviour.
For safeguarding professionals, the issue is not simply whether someone has viewed harmful material, it is also about understanding attitudes towards consent, violence, power and coercion. Sexual violence should never be normalised or minimised simply because it is depicted within pornography.
Education, early intervention and informed conversations are essential parts of preventing harm.
5. What does this mean for safeguarding children and young people?
Although the new offences apply to specified harmful pornography, the wider safeguarding implications are particularly relevant to children and young people. Young people may encounter sexual content online before they have developed a full understanding of healthy relationships, consent, boundaries and exploitation. Exposure may happen intentionally or accidentally, including through social media, messaging services, online communities and other digital environments.
This can create challenges for professionals supporting young people to distinguish between healthy relationships and harmful or abusive behaviour.
Safeguarding education should help children and young people understand:
The importance of consent and personal boundaries.
That violence and coercion are not acceptable features of healthy relationships.
How pornography may present unrealistic or harmful expectations.
The risks associated with sharing sexual images.
How to recognise pressure, manipulation or exploitation.
Where to seek support if they encounter distressing or harmful material.
Importantly, professionals must approach these conversations sensitively and in an age-appropriate way. The aim should be to build understanding and confidence, not shame or blame young people.
Children and young people need safe opportunities to ask questions, challenge harmful messages and develop a realistic understanding of healthy relationships.
6. The connection between online content and violence against women and girls
The government's announcement forms part of wider efforts to address violence against women and girls. This includes recognising concerns about the relationship between harmful sexual content, misogynistic attitudes, coercive behaviour and sexual violence.
However, it is important not to assume that viewing pornography automatically causes someone to commit abuse. The relationship between media exposure, attitudes and behaviour is complex. What safeguarding professionals should recognise is that online environments can influence perceptions of what is normal, acceptable or expected within relationships. Where harmful content reinforces messages about domination, humiliation, coercion or violence, these messages need to be challenged.
This is particularly important when considering:
Harmful sexual behaviour.
Domestic abuse and coercive control.
Sexual harassment.
Peer-on-peer abuse.
Online misogyny.
Sexual exploitation.
Attitudes towards consent and personal boundaries.
Legislation can establish clear boundaries around prohibited material but prevention also requires education, awareness and a willingness to challenge harmful attitudes before they escalate into abusive behaviour.
7. What should organisations be doing now?
These changes provide an opportunity for organisations to review how they address harmful sexual content within their safeguarding arrangements.
Review safeguarding policies and procedures
Ensure policies appropriately address online sexual harm, harmful sexual behaviour, exploitation and the sharing of illegal or concerning content.
Strengthen staff awareness
Staff should understand that certain categories of harmful pornography will become criminal offences from 6 November 2026.
They should also understand how to respond if prohibited material is disclosed, discovered or reported.
Review online safety education
Schools, colleges, youth organisations and other services working with children should consider whether their education programmes address consent, coercion, harmful sexual content and healthy relationships.
Ensure clear reporting arrangements
Professionals should know how to escalate concerns, preserve relevant information appropriately and seek advice without unnecessarily viewing, saving or distributing harmful material.
Consider organisational digital environments
Employers and organisations operating digital platforms should review their arrangements for reporting and responding to potentially illegal sexual content.
Organisations operating online services within the scope of the Online Safety Act 2023 should also consider their applicable duties concerning illegal content and user safety.
Support professional confidence
Safeguarding professionals need opportunities to discuss complex issues, explore emerging risks and understand how to respond proportionately.
This includes recognising when specialist advice or police involvement may be required.
8. Beyond compliance: Are we doing enough to challenge harmful attitudes?
The introduction of new criminal offences is an important development but legislation alone cannot address every factor that contributes to sexual violence, exploitation or harmful behaviour.
We also need to consider the environments in which attitudes develop.
Are children and young people receiving meaningful education about consent and healthy relationships?
Are adults confident challenging harmful sexual language, jokes and behaviours?
Do organisations recognise the connection between online sexual harm and offline safeguarding concerns?
Are professionals equipped to respond when someone discloses exposure to harmful content or experiences of sexual violence?
These questions matter because safeguarding should not begin only when a criminal offence has occurred. It should also involve creating cultures where harmful behaviour is recognised, challenged and prevented wherever possible.
Effective safeguarding means addressing the attitudes, environments and behaviours that can contribute to harm, not simply responding once abuse has taken place.
Our final reflection
From 6 November 2026, new criminal offences in England and Wales will prohibit the possession and publication of specified categories of harmful pornography. The changes are intended to address material depicting strangulation, suffocation, certain incestuous sexual activity and sexual activity involving individuals portrayed as under 16.
For individuals and organisations, understanding the legal changes is important but the wider safeguarding message is equally significant.
We must continue to challenge the normalisation of sexual violence, strengthen education around healthy relationships and ensure people understand how to recognise and report harmful behaviour.
Online safeguarding is not just about controlling access to content. It is about protecting people, challenging harmful attitudes and preventing abuse and that requires a response that goes beyond legislation alone.
How RLB Safeguarding can help
At RLB, we support organisations to strengthen their approach to online safety, harmful sexual behaviour, exploitation and safeguarding practice.
Our services include:
Safeguarding training for professionals and organisations.
Online safety and exploitation awareness.
Harmful sexual behaviour training and consultancy.
Safeguarding policy and procedure reviews.
Independent safeguarding audits.
Designated Safeguarding Lead development.
Safeguarding supervision and professional reflection.
We work with organisations across all sectors to strengthen safeguarding knowledge, confidence and practice.
Safeguarding people of all ages, in all places. Beyond compliance.