BARONESS Helen Newlove – widow of Warrington murder victim Garry Newlove – is calling for non-fatal strangulation to be made a specific criminal offence.
She has tabled an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill which was being brought before the House of Lords today (Tuesday).
The proposal is for a new criminal charge of non-fatal strangulation to be created under the motion, which believed to have cross-party support.
Baroness Newlove has told the BBC this would be a “red flag to help police spot domestic abuse and coercive control”.
She said: “Whether there are marks around the victim’s neck or not, what the eye does not see is the level of violence that has been delivered.
“The true impact of non-fatal strangulation can lead to immense health problems months down the line, from internal bleeding, increased risk of miscarriage, neurological injuries, loss of memory and for some, a stroke.”
The government is opposed to the amendment and says non-fatal strangulation is adequately covered by other offences.
