Teens to be taught strangulation can put them in jail after 'choking normalisation' concerns

Teens to be taught strangulation can put them in jail after 'choking normalisation' concerns The new sexual education lessons will be taught to 14 to 15-year-olds in schools, with the offence punishable by up to five years in prison Teenagers as young as 14 will be taught that strangling someone during sex can put them in prison after growing concerns over "the normalisation of choking". The lessons will also teach pupils about a number of other issues such as not to assume "blanket consent" during intercourse, setting boundaries with a partner and recognising toxic relationship behaviours. The latter will include phone snooping and gaslighting, a form of emotional abuse that leaves victims questioning their own memory. The strangulation warning is part of materials for Government-backed lessons for 14 to 15-year-olds. Schools will be able to use it as part of the updated Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum. New statutory guidance is due to come into force in September. The lessons were developed "amid growing concern about the normalisation of choking" among Britain's young people and created by Oak National Academy, an arm's length body to help schools deliver curriculum content. The academy said it will help teachers tackle the "growing influence of the manosphere and incel culture" in classrooms. Intentionally strangling or suffocating another person is a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison. There is a defence in law if an accused can show that an alleged victim consented to strangulation or any other act that affects the ability to breathe. This, however, doesn't apply if the victim suffers serious harm, if the accused intended to cause serious harm, or was reckless as to whether the victim would suffer serious harm. The new lessons will make clear to pupils that they cannot rely on consent as a defence. Schools minister Georgia Gould said: "Misogynistic views are not innate, they are learned, and we are using every possible tool to achieve our mission of halving violence against women and girls. "From this September, every school will be required to teach our new RSHE guidance – helping challenge and tackle harmful myths and behaviours early. Oak National Academy’s new resources mean teachers have everything they need to have these conversations safely, confidently, and with the support of high-quality, expert-backed materials." John Roberts, chief executive of Oak, added: "We can’t run from difficult topics, otherwise young people are left to navigate them alone. The new RSHE guidance will bring a lot of sensitive discussions into classrooms. "That’s a good thing. Teachers are well placed to hold these conversations safely and productively. But they need support to do it well."