May 1, 2004: Radical reform of sex offences legislation
The most radical reform of sex offences for more than 100 years, including new laws protecting the young and vulnerable and tougher penalties for dangerous criminals, come into force today (May 1, 2004). The Sexual Offences Act 2003 gained Royal Assent on 20 November 2003. It strengthens the monitoring of offenders on the sex offenders register. The Act includes:
- sex with 12-year-olds and under will automatically be charged as rape which carries a maximum sentence of life;
- clarification of the law on consent in regard to rape and the extension of the definition of rape;
- a new grooming offence with a 10 year maximum jail sentence;
- all those on the sex offenders’ register to confirm their details in person annually;
- strengthening drug rape offences;
- orders banning those convicted of a sex offence against under-16s from travelling anywhere in the world;
- stronger protection for vulnerable people;
- a new offence of trafficking people for sexual exploitation with up to 14 years in prison for offenders.