The Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS) was established in October 2022, following the introduction of new legislation on strangulation and suffocation as a stand-alone offence.

Prior to this strangulation and suffocation did not have the focus required given the dangers of the offence and tended either to be not charged at all or charged as a generic offence such as common assault, or sometimes actual bodily harm. 

Recognising strangulation as a stand-alone offence highlights the severity of strangulation and the deep impact on the victim/ survivor. 

The message is clear. There is no safe way to strangle. IFAS has been raising awareness of the prevalence of strangulation in the UK and the associated health risks, conducting research, developing resources, and training professionals in responding to and supporting victims/survivors of these assaults.

IFAS works in partnership with SafeLives to deliver training to frontline professional who are likely to come across victims/ survivors of strangulation. IFAS has established itself as the lead on guiding professionals through the best practice in supporting victims/ survivors of strangulation. 

Funded by the Home Office, IFAS sits within the Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine (FFLM). The FFLM is a registered charity set up to develop and maintain the highest possible standards of competence and professional integrity in forensic and legal medicine. 

Find out more here.

IFAS Website

Click here to visit the IFAS website to access their resources and find out more about training/upcoming events: https://ifas.org.uk