| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| 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 | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 20 November 2003 |
| Commencement | 1 May 2004,[2] except that sections 138 and 141 to 143 came into force on 20 November 2003[3] |
| Other legislation | |
| 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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |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)