Sexual Offences Act 2003

Sexual Offences Act 2003^[1]
Act of Parliament
	Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make new provision about sexual offences, their prevention and the protection of children from harm from other sexual acts, and for connected purposes.
Citation	2003 c. 42
Territorial extent	England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent	20 November 2003
Commencement	1 May 2004, except that sections 138 and 141 to 143 came into force on 20 November 2003
Other legislation
Amended by	Children Act 2004; Civil Partnership Act 2004; Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004; Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Act 2005; Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005; Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005; Armed Forces Act 2006; Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006; Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006; Serious Crime Act 2007; Children and Young Persons Act 2008; Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008; Education and Skills Act 2008; Coroners and Justice Act 2009; Policing and Crime Act 2009; Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009; Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2011; Crime and Courts Act 2013; Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010; Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011; Health and Social Care Act 2012; Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012; Protection of Freedoms Act 2012; Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2013; Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014; Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015; Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015; Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015; Modern Slavery Act 2015; Serious Crime Act 2015; Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016; Policing and Crime Act 2017; Data Protection Act 2018; Space Industry Act 2018; Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019; Sentencing Act 2020; Domestic Abuse Act 2021; Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021; Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022; Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022; Online Safety Act 2023
Relates to	Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

It partly replaced the Sexual Offences Act 1956 with more specific and explicit wording. It also created several new offences such as non-consensual voyeurism, assault by penetration, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and penetration of any part of a corpse. It defines and sets legal guidelines for rape in English law. It is also the main legislation dealing with child sexual abuse.

The corresponding legislation in Scotland is the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 and in Northern Ireland the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008.

^ The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 143 of this Act.
^ The Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 141; the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Commencement) Order 2004 (SI 2004/874), article 2; the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Commencement) (Scotland) Order 2004 (SSI 2004/138), article 2.
^ These sections came into force on the date of royal assent because no other date was specified: The Interpretation Act 1978, section 4(b)

[1] The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 143 of this Act.

[2] The Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 141; the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Commencement) Order 2004 (SI 2004/874), article 2; the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Commencement) (Scotland) Order 2004 (SSI 2004/138), article 2.

[3] These sections came into force on the date of royal assent because no other date was specified: The Interpretation Act 1978, section 4(b)

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Sexual Offences Act 2003

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