Re: Sexual Offences Act 2003, UK

On Sun, 30 Nov 2003 17:25:33 +1100, "Rarin Horse"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

>
>"Ann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
>news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> At last the new UK Act comes into force.
>>
>> http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/20030042.htm
>>
>> Ann
>
>Why do you say 'at last'?

It's been coming for ages.  I've been following its path through the
parliamentary system seemingly for years.

>And do you agree with all of it?

I haven't read it all yet to see what changes have been made since the
last time I read it but generally I think it's good.  I particularly
like the way the rape of prepubescent children is taken more seriously
than before.  I like that it is assumed that prepubescents can't give
meaningful consent and any sex with them is called rape.

The Act has been brought up to date in many respects particularly in
the area of gender.  The penalty for a woman who forces a man to have
sex with her is the same as a man forcing a woman.  This is new.  The
laws to do with prostitution have been altered to include men and
women too.

One bit I've seen and would question is why they deem it necessary to
make it illegal for adult relatives to have sex.  I don't know what
the rationale behind this is.  I can't see why two consenting adults
should have any limits put on their sexual activities.  People do
break the law in this regard and I don't see what harm it does.

I'm also wondering if the age of consent is too high and I think it
will be lowered gradually over the coming years but I think it will
take time.

Now we just have to see how the courts will act and what sentences
they give.  I don't imagine much will change there and I will disagree
with the sentences given.  We can give them the Act but we can't force
them to use it properly.

Ann