Section 56 – Continuity of sexual offences committed abroad
172.Section 56 ensures the continuity of the extraterritorial sexual offences provisions in section 16B of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (“the 1995 Act”) which are replaced by section 55 of the Bill. It deals with cases where it cannot be proved precisely when the offence occurred, i.e. before or after section 16B of the 1995 Act is repealed.
173.Subsection (1) provides that this section applies where a person is charged, in respect of the same conduct, with an existing offence as modified by section 16B of the 1995 Act and with the offence as modified by section 55 of the Bill. As with section 53, it provides that the court or jury must be satisfied in all respects that the accused committed the offences charged, other than as to the time on which the sexual conduct took place.
174.Subsection (3) provides that where this section applies the accused may be found guilty, of the offence as modified by section 16B of the 1995 Act.