Statutory Instruments
CRIMINAL LAW, ENGLAND AND WALES
CRIMINAL LAW, NORTHERN IRELAND
Made
14th December 2000
In exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 7(3) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000(1), the Secretary of State hereby makes the following Order:
1. This Order may be cited as the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2000.
2.—(1) Save for the provisions specified in paragraph (2) below (which relate only to Scotland), the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 shall come into force on 8th January 2001.
(2) The provisions excepted by paragraph (1) are:
(a)section 1(3) (reduction in age at which certain sexual acts are lawful);
(b)section 2(4) (defences available to persons who are under age);
(c)section 4(3)(c) (meaning of position of trust), and the provisions in subsection (9) of that section which relate only to Scotland;
(d)section 5(3) (notification requirements for offenders under section 3); and
(e)section 6(2) (meaning of “sexual offence” for the purposes of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995(2).
3. This Order extends to England and Wales and Northern Ireland only.
Jack Straw
One of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State
Home Office
14th December 2000
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order brings into force the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000 on 8th January 2001 for England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
The 2000 Act reduces the age at which certain sexual acts are lawful and provides certain defences to under age persons. It also creates a new offence of abuse of a position of trust.