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Rape and Sexual Offences - Annex B: Statutory Limitations on prosecution of offences committed abroad - Table of Legislation

|Legal Guidance, Sexual offences , Violent crime

Date in force

Legislation

To whom it applies

Offences to which it applies

Date repealed

Prior to
1 October 1996

None – no power to try acts that occurred outside the United Kingdom

Not applicable

Not applicable

Not applicable

1 October 1996

Section 1 and section 2 of the Sexual Offences (Conspiracy and Incitement) Act 1996

Complainants under 16 years

Sexual Offences Act 1956

  • section 1 (rape, complainant must be aged under 16)
  • section 5 (intercourse with girl under the age of thirteen)
  • section 6 (intercourse with girl under the age of sixteen)
  • section 12 (buggery, complainant must have been under 16)
  • section 14 (indecent assault on a girl, complainant must have been under 16), and
  • section 15 (indecent assault on a boy, complainant must have been under 16),

Indecency with Children Act 1960

  • section 1 (indecent conduct towards young child).

From 1 May 2004 section 2 only

Sexual Offences Act 2003

  • sections 1 to 12, 14 and 15 to 26 (complainant must be aged under 16)

Section 1 repealed on 4 September 1998

Section 2 still in force

1 September 1997

Section 7 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997

Complainants under 16 years

Sexual Offences Act 1956

  • section 1 (rape complainant must be aged under 16)
  • section 5 (intercourse with girl under 13)
  • section 6 (intercourse with girl between 13 and 16)
  • section 12 (buggery, complainant must be aged under 16)
  • section 14 (indecent assault on a girl, complainant must be aged under 16)
  • section 15 (indecent assault on a boy, complainant must be aged under 16)
  • section 16 (assault with intent to commit buggery, complainant must be aged under 16)

Indecency with Children Act 1960

  • section 1 (indecent conduct towards young child)

Protection of Children Act 1978

  • section 1 (indecent photographs of children)

Repealed on 1 May 2004

1 May 2004

Section 72 Sexual Offences Act 2003

Complainants under 16 years

Sexual Offences Act 2003

  • an offence under any of sections 5 to 15 (offences against children under 13 or under 16)
  • an offence under any of sections 1 to 4, 16 to 41, 47 to 50 and 61 where the victim of the offence was under 16 at the time of the offence
  • an offence under section 62 or 63 where the intended offence was an offence against a person under 16

The Protection of Children Act 1978

  • section 1 (indecent photographs of children)

The Criminal Justice Act 1988

  • section 160 possession of indecent photograph of child, in relation to a photograph or pseudo-photograph showing a child under 16

Amended section still in force

14 July 2008

Section 72 Sexual Offences Act 2003 (as amended by the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008)

Complainants under 16 years

Sexual Offences Act 2003

  • an offence under any of sections 5 to 19, 25 and 26 and 47 to 50
  • an offence under any of sections 1 to 4, 30 to 41 and 61 where the victim of the offence was under 18 at the time of the offence
  • an offence under section 62 or 63 where the intended offence was an offence against a person under 18

The Protection of Children Act 1978

  • section 1 (indecent photographs of children)

The Criminal Justice Act 1988

  • section 160 possession of indecent photograph of child, in relation to a photograph or pseudo-photograph showing a child under 16

Amended section still in force

29 June 2021

Section 72 Sexual Offences Act 2003 (as amended by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021)

Victims over 18 years

Sexual Offences Act 2003

  • section 1 (rape)
  • section 2 (assault by penetration)
  • section 3 (sexual assault)
  • section 4 (Causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent)

In force

Further reading

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