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| Section 1 repealed on 4 September 1998 Section 2 still in force |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| Repealed on 1 May 2004 |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 |
