Child Porn movement in the UK

["L. Bird" <pkeets@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

A new Sex Offences Act was announced this week in the UK.  I didn't find 
much in the way of articles on the Internet news, but here's something 
posted on alt.music.who.  Unfortunately a link was not included.  I'm not 
sure what I think about the outdoor sex provision, but the sexual grooming 
ought to work okay as long as police can establish intent through the 
chatroom (or other) communication.

>     Adults befriending children with the intention of abusing them face 
> five years in jail as part of the first radical overhaul of sex laws for 50 
> years.
     The new offence of sexual "grooming" of children will allow police
officers to intervene and arrest a suspect before any sexual activity takes 
place.

     But Home Office minister Hilary Benn said that while he did not
"under-estimate the difficulties" of bringing such a prosecution, it was the 
government's view a new offence was needed to protect children.

     Among other measures in the Sex Offences Bill published on Wednesday, 
couples who have sex in an outdoor public place could face six months 
imprisonment

     Sex offenders from overseas will now have to register when they come 
to the UK.

     Chatrooms

     UK sex offenders will have to re-register annually, instead of every 
five years, or face five years in jail.

     Home Secretary David Blunkett said sexual crime, especially against 
children "can tear apart the very fabric of society".

     "Protection of children and the most vulnerable is a priority for the 
government," he said.


     "This is now the first time for 50 years a government has had the
courage to take on the difficult and sensitive task of reforming sex
offences legislation."

     The new offence of "sexual grooming" comes in two parts, dealing with 
the intention of a would-be paedophile and the moment a meeting with a child 
takes place.

     Mr Benn told journalists that if it became known that a 45 year old 
man was logging on to Internet chatrooms pretending to be a 15-year-old, 
then a civil preventative order could be made.

     Gap in the law

     "That's the first protection, to try to catch this behaviour and stop 
it before a meeting and any risk of any sexual activity with the child takes 
place," he said.

     "Secondly there's the grooming offence ... committed at the moment the 
meeting takes place - you have to prove that they intended to commit a 
sexual offence with that child ..."

     But Mr Benn stressed: "I don't underestimate the difficulties that
there may be involved."

     Penny Dean, of the Children's Society, welcomed the stance taken on 
child abusers.

     Under the new laws, anyone found guilty of having sex with a child
aged 12 or under would be charged with rape, with a maximum penalty of life 
in prison.

     This would stop defence counsel from asking youngsters "did you lead 
him on".

     Sex outdoors

     Inducing a child to take their clothes off will carry a maximum
10-year sentence if no physical contact was involved, and 14 if there was.

     The measures also include a six month jail term for a person who
"knows or is reckless" about whether they will be seen having sex.

     Private homes are not exempt from the new law,  having sex in a
private garden which can be seen from the street would be a crime.

     Sex in public toilets, or "cottaging", will not be a specific offence 
unless "the cubicle door was open", said Mr Benn.

     Rape convictions

     The bill introduces a new test of "reasonableness" over the issue of 
consent in rape allegations.

     This would mean rape victims would be considered to have been unlikely 
to have said yes to sex if they were unconscious or threatened, for example.

     "Date rape" will not become a separate offence, but using drugs or
other substances to stupefy a victim for an indecent assault will carry a 
10-year sentence.

     It is hoped conviction rates for rape - which fell from 25% in 1985 to 
just 7% in 2000 - will improve.

     The bill includes new offences covering sexual assault by penetration, 
bestiality, voyeurism, indecent exposure, and sexual interference with human 
remains.

     New measures against child prostitution are also included.






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