Hyperlawhypertext legal database Sexual Offences (Conspiracy and Incitement) Act 1996 current to 2024-05-17

UKPGA-1996-29 Sexual Offences (Conspiracy and Incitement) Act 1996 UK

Current to 2024-05-17

Contents
preamble

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

England and Wales and Northern Ireland

s. 1 — . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
s. 2 — Incitement to commit certain sexual acts outside the United Kingdom.
s. 2(1)

This section applies where—

s. 2(1)(a)

any act done by a person in England and Wales would amount to the offence of incitement to commit a listed sexual offence but for the fact that what he had in view would not be an offence triable in England and Wales,

s. 2(1)(b)

the whole or part of what he had in view was intended to take place in a country or territory outside the United Kingdom, and

s. 2(1)(c)

what he had in view would involve the commission of an offence under the law in force in that country or territory.

s. 2(2)

Where this section applies—

s. 2(2)(a)

what he had in view is to be treated as that listed sexual offence for the purposes of any charge of incitement brought in respect of that act, and

s. 2(2)(b)

any such charge is accordingly triable in England and Wales.

s. 2(3)

Any act done by means of a message (however communicated) is to be treated as done in England and Wales if the message is sent or received in England and Wales.

s. 3 — Sections 1 and 2: supplementary.
s. 3(1)

Conduct punishable under the law in force in any country or territory is an offence under that law for the purposes of section 2, however it is described in that law.

s. 3(2)

Subject to subsection (3), a condition in section . . . 2(1)(c) is to be taken to be satisfied unless, not later than rules of court may provide, the defence serve on the prosecution a notice—

s. 3(2)(a)

stating that, on the facts as alleged with respect to what the accused had in view, the condition is not in their opinion satisfied,

s. 3(2)(b)

showing their grounds for that opinion, and

s. 3(2)(c)

requiring the prosecution to show that it is satisfied.

s. 3(3)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

s. 3(4)

The court, if it thinks fit, may permit the defence to require the prosecution to show that the condition is satisfied without the prior service of a notice under subsection (2).

s. 3(5)

In the Crown Court the question whether the condition is satisfied is to be decided by the judge alone.

s. 3(6)

In any proceedings in respect of any offence triable by virtue of section . . .2, it is immaterial to guilt whether or not the accused was a British citizen at the time of any act or other event proof of which is required for conviction of the offence.

s. 3(7)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

s. 3(8)

References to an offence of incitement to commit a listed sexual offence include an offence triable in England and Wales as such an incitement by virtue of section 2 (without prejudice to subsection (2) of that section).

s. 3(9)

Subsection (8) applies to references in any enactment, instrument or document (except those in section 2 of this Act and in Part I of the Criminal Law Act 1977).

s. 4 — Northern Ireland.

In the application of the preceding provisions to Northern Ireland—

s. 4(a)

any reference to England and Wales is to Northern Ireland,

s. 4(b)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

s. 4(c)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

s. 5 — Interpretation.

In this Act “listed sexual offence” has the meaning given by the Schedule.

Scotland

s. 6 — Scottish provision.

After section 16 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 there is inserted—

General

s. 7 — Short title, commencement and extent.
s. 7(1)

This Act may be cited as the Sexual Offences (Conspiracy and Incitement) Act 1996.

s. 7(2)

This Act is to come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument appoint, and different days may be appointed for different purposes and for different areas.

s. 7(3)

Nothing in section . . .2 or 6 applies to any act or other event occurring before the coming into force of that section.

s. 7(4)

This Act, except sections 4 and 6, extends to England and Wales.

s. 7(5)

Section 6 and this section extend to Scotland.

s. 7(6)

This Act, except section 6, extends to Northern Ireland.

Sch 1

England and Wales

Sch 1 para 1
Sch 1 para 1(1)

In relation to England and Wales, the following are listed sexual offences:

Sch 1 para 1(1)(a)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sch 1 para 1(1)(b)

an offence under any of sections 1 to 12, 14 and 15 to 26 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Sch 1 para 1(2)

Sub-paragraph (1)(b) does not apply where the victim of the offence has attained the age of sixteen years.

Northern Ireland

Sch 1 para 2
Sch 1 para 2(1)

In relation to Northern Ireland, the following are listed sexual offences:

Sch 1 para 2(1)(a)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sch 1 para 2(1)(b)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sch 1 para 2(1)(c)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sch 1 para 2(1)(d)

an offence under any of Articles 5 to 19, 21 and 22 to 33 of the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008.

Sch 1 para 2(1)(e)

an offence under Article 21 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (indecent assault on a male)

Sch 1 para 2(2)

Sub-paragraph (1)(d) does not apply where the victim of the offence has attained the age of sixteen years.