Government issues statement after thousands call for major law change to protect victims of violence

More than 19,000 people have now signed the petition18:03, 30 Aug 2026Updated 18:04, 30 Aug 2026The Government has issued a statement after nearly 20,000 people signed a petition calling for a major change to legislation.‌A petition was launched on March 6 which urged the Government to amend the Serious Crime Act 2016 to treat non-fatal strangulation as attempted murder.‌The petition, which has hit 19,094 signatures, reads: "Amend section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015 so that non-fatal strangulation is treated as seriously as attempted murder, reflecting the intent and potential lethality of the act and ensuring perpetrators face appropriate sentencing of up to life in prison.‌Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter"Non-fatal strangulation i