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Clinicians around the country are observing a concerning rise in young people being strangled during sexual assault, reports Alex Casey. Since 2018, strangulation and suffocation has been a criminal offence punishable by up to seven years in prison. Defined as “intentionally or recklessly impeding another person’s normal breathing, blood circulation, or both” through applying pressure to the throat, neck or blocking the nose or mouth, the crime was introduced along with other legislative changes to combat family violence rates .