- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Sexual Offences Act 2003 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 09 December 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the affected provisions when you open the content using the Table of Contents below.
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
17.Abuse of position of trust: causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity
18.Abuse of position of trust: sexual activity in the presence of a child
19.Abuse of position of trust: causing a child to watch a sexual act
23.Sections 16 to 19: exception for spouses and civil partners
24.Sections 16 to 19: sexual relationships which pre-date position of trust
Offences against persons with a mental disorder impeding choice
30.Sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder impeding choice
31.Causing or inciting a person, with a mental disorder impeding choice, to engage in sexual activity
32.Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a person with a mental disorder impeding choice
33.Causing a person, with a mental disorder impeding choice, to watch a sexual act
Inducements etc. to persons with a mental disorder
34.Inducement, threat or deception to procure sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder
35.Causing a person with a mental disorder to engage in or agree to engage in sexual activity by inducement, threat or deception
36.Engaging in sexual activity in the presence, procured by inducement, threat or deception, of a person with a mental disorder
37.Causing a person with a mental disorder to watch a sexual act by inducement, threat or deception
Care workers for persons with a mental disorder
38.Care workers: sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder
40.Care workers: sexual activity in the presence of a person with a mental disorder
41.Care workers: causing a person with a mental disorder to watch a sexual act
43.Sections 38 to 41: exception for spouses and civil partners
44.Sections 38 to 41: sexual relationships which pre-date care relationships
Part 2 Notification and orders
81.Persons formerly subject to Part 1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997
85A.Notification requirements: absence from notified residence
86.Notification requirements: travel outside the United Kingdom
88A.Review of indefinite notification requirements: applicable persons
88B.Review of indefinite notification requirements: date of discharge and further date of discharge
88C.Review of the indefinite notification requirements: procedure and grounds
88D.Review of indefinite notification requirement: transitional cases
88E.Review of indefinite notification requirements: further review
88F.Review of the indefinite notification requirements: application to a sheriff
88H.Review of indefinite notification requirements: power to amend periods
88I.Discharge from indefinite notification requirements: England, Wales and Northern Ireland
91A.Review of indefinite notification requirements: qualifying relevant offender
91B.Review of indefinite notification requirements: application for review and qualifying dates
91C.Review of indefinite notification requirements: determination of application for review
91D.Review of indefinite notification requirements: factors applying to determination under section 91C
91F.Review of indefinite notification requirements: guidance
Offences outside the United Kingdom: notification requirements
Sexual offences prevention orders (Scotland and Northern Ireland)
Sexual risk orders (England and Wales)
122BA.Sexual risk orders: requirements included in order etc.
122F.Sexual risk orders and interim sexual risk orders: notification requirements
122G.Sexual risk orders and interim sexual risk orders: appeals
122H.Offence: breach of sexual risk order or interim sexual risk order etc
122I.Effect of conviction etc of an offence under section 122H etc
122J.Sexual risk orders and interim sexual risk orders: guidance
122K.Sexual risk orders and interim sexual risk orders: supplementary
136ZC.Variation , renewal or discharge of sexual harm prevention order by court in Northern Ireland
136ZD.Variation , renewal or discharge of sexual risk order by court in Northern Ireland
136ZE.Variation, renewal or discharge of sexual harm prevention order etc by court in Scotland
136ZF.Variation, renewal or discharge of sexual risk order etc by court in Scotland
136ZG.Variation, renewal or discharge of sexual harm prevention order made in Scotland by court in England and Wales
136ZH.Variation, renewal or discharge of sexual offences prevention order or foreign travel order by court in England and Wales
136ZI.Variation, renewal or discharge of sexual risk order made in Scotland by court in England and Wales
136ZJ.Variation, renewal or discharge of risk of sexual harm order by court in England and Wales
SCHEDULES
Extension of gender-specific prostitution offences
Sexual offences for purposes of Part 2
2.An offence under section 5 of that Act (intercourse with...
3.An offence under section 6 of that Act (intercourse with...
6.An offence under section 13 of that Act (indecency between...
7.An offence under section 14 of that Act (indecent assault...
8.An offence under section 15 of that Act (indecent assault...
11.An offence under section 1 of the Indecency with Children...
13.An offence under section 1 of the Protection of Children...
14.An offence under section 170 of the Customs and Excise...
15.An offence under section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act...
16.An offence under section 3 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment)...
18.An offence under section 3 of this Act (sexual assault)...
20.An offence under section 7 of this Act (sexual assault...
24A.An offence under section 15A of this Act (sexual communication...
29B.An offence under section 49 of this Act (controlling a...
29C.An offence under section 50 of this Act (arranging or...
30.An offence under section 61 of this Act (administering a...
33.An offence under section 66 of this Act (exposure) if—...
33A.An offence under section 66A of this Act (sending etc...
33B.An offence under section 66B(3) of this Act (sharing intimate...
34.An offence under section 67 of this Act (voyeurism) if—...
34A.(1) An offence under section 67A of this Act (voyeurism:...
35A.An offence under section 63 of the Criminal Justice and...
35B.An offence under section 62(1) of the Coroners and Justice...
38A.Abduction with intent to commit rape under section 1 (rape)...
38B.Abduction with intent to commit rape under section 18 (rape...
39A.Assault with intent to commit rape under section 1 (rape)...
39B.Assault with intent to commit rape under section 18 (rape...
41A.Public indecency if— (a) a person (other than the offender)...
42.Shameless indecency, if a person (other than the offender) involved...
43.Sodomy, unless every person involved in the offence was 16...
44.An offence under section 170 of the Customs and Excise...
44A.An offence under section 51A of the Civic Government (Scotland)...
45.An offence under section 52 of the Civic Government (Scotland)...
46.An offence under section 52A of that Act (possession of...
47.An offence under section 106 of the Mental Health (Scotland)...
48.An offence under section 107 of that Act (protection of...
49.An offence under section 1 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)...
50.An offence under section 2 of that Act (intercourse with...
51.An offence under section 3 of that Act (intercourse with...
52.An offence under section 5 of that Act (unlawful intercourse...
53.An offence under section 6 of that Act (indecent behaviour...
55.An offence under section 10 of that Act (person having...
56.An offence under section 13(5) of that Act (homosexual offences)...
57.An offence under section 3 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment)...
58.An offence under section 311(1) of the Mental Health (Care...
59.An offence under section 313(1) of that Act (persons providing...
59A.An offence under section 1 of the Protection of Children...
59D.An offence under section 1 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland)...
59E.An offence under section 2 of that Act (sexual assault...
59F.An offence under section 3 of that Act (sexual assault)....
59G.An offence under section 4 of that Act (sexual coercion)....
59J.An offence under section 7(1) of that Act (communicating indecently)....
59L.An offence under section 8 of that Act (sexual exposure)...
59N.An offence under section 11 of that Act (administering a...
59P.An offence under section 19 of that Act (sexual assault...
59Q.An offence under section 20 of that Act (sexual assault...
59U.An offence under section 24(1) of that Act (communicating indecently...
59V.An offence under section 24(2) of that Act (causing a...
59W.An offence under section 25 of that Act (sexual exposure...
59X.An offence under section 26 of that Act (voyeurism towards...
59Y.An offence under section 28 of that Act (having intercourse...
59ZA.An offence under section 30 of that Act (engaging in...
59ZE.An offence under section 34(1) of that Act (communicating indecently...
59ZF.An offence under section 34(2) of that Act (causing an...
59ZG.An offence under section 35 of that Act (sexual exposure...
59ZH.An offence under section 36 of that Act (voyeurism towards...
59ZI.An offence under section 37(1) of that Act (engaging while...
59ZJ.An offence under section 37(4) of that Act (engaging while...
59ZK.An offence under section 42 of that Act (sexual abuse...
59ZL.An offence under section 46 of that Act (sexual abuse...
60.An offence in Scotland other than is mentioned in paragraphs...
62.An offence under section 52 of the Offences against the...
67.An offence under section 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment...
68.An offence under section 3 of that Act (procuring defilement...
72.An offence under section 11 of that Act (homosexual offences)...
73.An offence under section 1 of the Punishment of Incest...
76.An offence under section 22 of that Act (indecent conduct...
77.An offence under Article 3 of the Protection of Children...
78.An offence under section 170 of the Customs and Excise...
79.An offence under Article 9 of the Criminal Justice (Northern...
80.An offence under Article 122 of the Mental Health (Northern...
81.An offence under Article 123 of that Order (offences against...
82.An offence under Article 15 of the Criminal Justice (Evidence,...
83.An offence under section 3 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment)...
84.An offence under Article 19 of the Criminal Justice (Northern...
85.An offence under Article 20 of that Order (assault with...
86.An offence under Article 21 of that Order (indecent assault...
89B.An offence under section 49 of this Act (controlling a...
89C.An offence under section 50 of this Act (arranging or...
90.An offence under section 66 of this Act (exposure) if—...
91.An offence under section 67 of this Act (voyeurism) if—...
92A.An offence under section 63 of the Criminal Justice and...
92C.An offence under Article 7 of that Order (sexual assault)...
92E.An offence under Article 14 of that Order (sexual assault...
92G.An offence under Article 20 of that Order (sexual offences...
92H.An offence under Article 21 of that Order (arranging or...
92HA.An offence under Article 22A of that Order (sexual communication...
92IA.An offence under Article 22A of that Order (sexual communication...
92IB.An offence under Article 22B of that Order (communicating with...
92IC.An offence under Article 22C of that Order (communicating with...
92ID.An offence under Article 22D of that Order (communicating with...
92IE.An offence under Article 22E of that Order (communicating with...
92L.An offence under Article 37 (paying for sexual services of...
92M.An offence under Article 38 (causing or inciting child prostitution...
92N.An offence under Article 39 (controlling a child prostitute or...
92O.An offence under Article 40 (arranging or facilitating child prostitution...
92R.An offence under Article 65 of that Order (administering a...
92U.An offence under Article 70 of that Order (exposure) if—...
92V.An offence under Article 71 of that Order (voyeurism) if—...
92VB.(1) An offence under Article 72A of that Order (sending...
92X.An offence under section 62(1) of the Coroners and Justice...
94.A reference in a preceding paragraph to an offence includes—...
94A.A reference in a preceding paragraph to an offence (“offence...
95.A reference in a preceding paragraph to a person’s age...
96.In this Schedule “community sentence” has— (a) in relation to...
98.A determination under paragraph 60 constitutes part of a person’s...
Review of indefinite notification requirements
Procedure for ending notification requirements for acts which are no longer offences
Other offences for purposes of Part 2
8.An offence under section 20 of that Act (malicious wounding)....
10.An offence under section 22 of that Act (using chloroform...
11.An offence under section 23 of that Act (maliciously administering...
12.An offence under section 27 of that Act (abandoning children)....
13.An offence under section 28 of that Act (causing bodily...
14.An offence under section 29 of that Act (using explosives...
15.An offence under section 30 of that Act (placing explosives...
16.An offence under section 31 of that Act (setting spring...
17.An offence under section 32 of that Act (endangering the...
18.An offence under section 35 of that Act (injuring persons...
19.An offence under section 37 of that Act (assaulting officer...
21.An offence under section 47 of that Act (assault occasioning...
22.An offence under section 2 of the Explosive Substances Act...
24.An offence under section 1 of the Infant Life (Preservation)...
26.An offence under section 1 of the Infanticide Act 1938...
28.An offence under section 16A of that Act (possession of...
30.An offence under section 17(2) of that Act (possession of...
32.An offence under section 8 of that Act(robbery or assault...
33.An offence under section 9(1)(a) of that Act (burglary with...
34.An offence under section 10 of that Act (aggravated burglary)....
35.An offence under section 12A of that Act (aggravated vehicle-taking)...
37.An offence under section 1(2) of that Act (destroying or...
39.An offence under section 1 of the Aviation Security Act...
40.An offence under section 2 of that Act (destroying, damaging...
43A.An offence under section 1 of the Child Abduction Act...
44.An offence under section 1 of the Prohibition of Female...
46.An offence under section 2 of that Act (violent disorder)....
48.An offence under section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act...
50.An offence under section 3A of that Act (causing death...
51.An offence under section 1 of the Aviation and Maritime...
54.An offence under section 11 of that Act (destroying fixed...
56.An offence under section 13 of that Act (offences involving...
59.An offence falling within section 31(1)(a) or (b) of that...
60.An offence under Part II of the Channel Tunnel (Security)...
61.An offence under section 51 or 52 of the International...
61A.An offence under section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003...
63A.An offence under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime...
63C.An offence under section 75A of the Serious Crime Act...
63D.An offence under section 179 of the Online Safety Act...
63E.An offence under section 181 of that Act (threatening communications)....
76.An offence under section 2 of the Explosive Substances Act...
80.An offence under section 16A of that Act (possession of...
82.An offence under section 17(2) of that Act (possession of...
85.An offence under section 1 of the Aviation Security Act...
86.An offence under section 2 of that Act (destroying, damaging...
89.An offence under section 105 of the Mental Health (Scotland)...
90.An offence under section 1 of the Prohibition of Female...
91.An offence under section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act...
93.An offence under section 3A of that Act (causing death...
94.An offence under section 1 of the Aviation and Maritime...
97.An offence under section 11 of that Act (destroying fixed...
99.An offence under section 13 of that Act (offences involving...
100.An offence under Part II of the Channel Tunnel (Security)...
101.An offence under section 7 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation)...
102.An offence under section 9 of that Act (permitting girl...
104.An offence under section 12 of that Act (allowing child...
105.An offence under section 13(9) of that Act (living on...
106.An offence under section 50A of that Act (racially-aggravated harassment)....
107.An offence under section 51 or 52 of the International...
108.An offence under section 1 of the International Criminal Court...
109.An offence under section 22 of the Criminal Justice (Scotland)...
111.An offence under section 315 of the Mental Health (Care...
118.An offence under section 4 of the Offences against the...
120.An offence under section 18 of that Act (wounding with...
121.An offence under section 20 of that Act (malicious wounding)....
122.An offence under section 21 of that Act (attempting to...
123.An offence under section 22 of that Act (using chloroform...
124.An offence under section 23 of that Act (maliciously administering...
125.An offence under section 27 of that Act (abandoning children)....
126.An offence under section 28 of that Act (causing bodily...
127.An offence under section 29 of that Act (using explosives...
128.An offence under section 30 of that Act (placing explosives...
129.An offence under section 31 of that Act (setting spring...
130.An offence under section 32 of that Act (endangering the...
131.An offence under section 35 of that Act (injuring persons...
132.An offence under section 37 of that Act (assaulting officer...
134.An offence under section 2 of the Explosive Substances Act...
136.An offence under section 25 of the Criminal Justice (Northern...
137.An offence under section 1 of the Infanticide Act (Northern...
138.An offence under section 7(1)(b) of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous...
138A.An offence under section 9(1)(a) of that Act (riotous, disorderly...
139.An offence under section 20 of the Children and Young...
139A.An offence under section 1 of the Theft Act (Northern...
141.An offence under section 9(1)(a) of that Act (burglary with...
142.An offence under section 10 of that Act (aggravated burglary)....
144.An offence under Article 3(2) of that Order (destroying or...
145.An offence under Article 58(1) of the Firearms (Northern Ireland)...
146.An offence under Article 58(2) of that Order (possession of...
148.An offence under Article 59(2) of that Order (possession of...
149.An offence under Article 60 of that Order (carrying a...
151.An offence under section 1 of the Aviation Security Act...
152.An offence under section 2 of that Act (destroying, damaging...
154A.An offence under Article 3 of the Child Abduction (Northern...
154B.An offence under Article 4 of that Order (offence of...
155.An offence under section 1 of the Prohibition of Female...
156.An offence under Article 121 of the Mental Health (Northern...
157.An offence under section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act...
158.An offence under section 1 of the Aviation and Maritime...
161.An offence under section 11 of that Act (destroying fixed...
163.An offence under section 13 of that Act (offences involving...
163A.An offence under Article 68 of the Children (Northern Ireland)...
164.An offence under Article 9 of the Road Traffic (Northern...
165.An offence under Article 14 of that Order (causing death...
165A.An offence under Article 4 of the Protection from Harassment...
166.An offence under Article 6 of that Order (putting people...
167.An offence under section 66 of the Police (Northern Ireland)...
168.An offence under Part II of the Channel Tunnel (Security)...
168ZA.An offence under section 53 or 54 of the Regulation...
169.An offence under section 51 or 52 of the International...
169A.An offence under section 127(1) of the Communications Act 2003...
171A.An offence under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime...
171B.An offence under Article 62 (causing or inciting prostitution for...
171C.An offence under section 2 of the Human Trafficking and...
171D.An offence under paragraph 2 of that Schedule (destroying, damaging...
171E.An offence under paragraph 3 of that Schedule (other acts...
171F.An offence under paragraph 4 of that Schedule (endangering safety...
171G.An offence under paragraph 5 of that Schedule (offences in...
171H.An offence under section 28 of the Justice (Sexual Offences...
171I.An offence under section 179 of the Online Safety Act...
171J.An offence under section 181 of that Act (threatening communications)....
Minor and consequential amendments
Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 34 (N.I.))
Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1908 (N.I. 27))
Sexual Offences (Conspiracy and Incitement) Act 1996 (c. 29)
Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1504 (N.I. 9))
Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/2839 (N.I. 20))
Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/2789 (N.I. 8))
Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (Northern Ireland) Order 2003(S.I. 2003/417 (N.I. 4))
Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/435 (N.I. 10))
Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/1247 (N.I. 13))
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