Step-incest porn to be banned after House of Lords vote passes by one
Publishing such content could carry a prison sentence of between two and five years
By Callum Wells
Pornography depicting sex acts between stepfamily members will be banned in the UK after a House of Lords amendment passed by one vote.
Peers approved the change by 144 votes to 143. The amendment was supported by Conservative peer Gabby Bertin, whose independent review into pornography regulation called for tighter controls in this area.
Under the new law, it will become a criminal offence to possess or distribute pornographic material showing incest between family members, as well as sex between step or foster relations where one person is depicted as under 18. Publishing such content could carry a prison sentence of between two and five years.
“I greatly welcome the government’s plans to fully address harmful pornographic content” – Conservative peer Gabby Bertin on the amendment
Questions were raised during debate about how the measure would be enforced. Consensual sexual relationships between adult step-relatives are not illegal in England and Wales, prompting some ministers to query how the ban would operate in practice.
Following the vote, Bertin said: “I greatly welcome the government’s plans to fully address harmful pornographic content, such as incest, step-incest and the mimicking of child sexual abuse.
“This content that is freely and widely available online is deeply harmful, normalising child sexual abuse and abusive relationships within families.
“Today the government has answered our calls for change, and I am delighted that once again the UK is leading the way on regulating this high-harm industry.”
Plans are also being drawn up to strengthen accountability for tech companies
Alex Davies-Jones, minister for victims and tackling violence against girls, said: “I’ve sadly heard far too many devastating stories from victims and I know we need change now.
“Tackling violence against women and girls within a decade will take every single one of us. We have been clear that vile online pornography has real-life consequences for all of us and I’d like to thank every brave campaigner who has worked with us to deliver this vital step.”
“Today we are sending a powerful message: we will stamp out misogynistic and harmful content online and create a safer world.”
Plans are also being drawn up to strengthen accountability for tech companies. A further amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill would allow regulators to pursue senior executives if platforms fail to remove intimate images shared without consent.