Overview

This Serious Crime Bill amends existing legislation to strengthen protections for children, improve responses to serious crime, and enhance law enforcement capabilities. Key changes include new offenses related to child sexual exploitation and communication, mandated reporting of female genital mutilation (FGM), and addressing controlling or coercive behaviour in intimate relationships.

Description

The bill introduces several key changes to UK law:

Protection of Children

• Creates a new offense of sexual communication with a child, covering online grooming and other forms of sexual communication with minors.
• Broadens the definition of "child sexual exploitation" in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, making it easier to prosecute those involved.
• Amends the Street Offences Act 1959 to clarify that the offense of soliciting prostitution only applies to individuals aged 18 or over.

Addressing Serious Crime

• Creates a new offence of throwing articles into prisons without authorisation.
• Grants courts power to issue telecommunications restriction orders to prevent or restrict the use of communication devices by prisoners.
• Introduces a new offense of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship.

Female Genital Mutilation

• Imposes a mandatory reporting duty on healthcare professionals, teachers, and social care workers in England and Wales to report suspected cases of FGM in girls under 18.
• Allows the Secretary of State to issue guidance on FGM.

Investigatory Powers

• Amends the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to ensure codes of practice include provisions to protect the confidentiality of journalistic sources.

Other Amendments

• Provides exemption from civil liability for good-faith money-laundering disclosures.
• Requires applications for certain court orders to be made by summary application.
• Mandates an assessment of evidence of sex-selective abortions and the creation of a strategic plan to address any concerns identified.

Government Spending

The bill's impact on government spending is not explicitly detailed, but it is likely to involve costs associated with law enforcement training, prosecution, support services for victims, and the implementation of new reporting requirements for FGM. Specific figures are not provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Children: Increased protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Healthcare professionals, teachers, social workers: New mandatory reporting duties regarding FGM.
• Prisoners: Subject to new restrictions on communication devices.
• Individuals in intimate relationships: Protection from controlling or coercive behaviour.
• Law enforcement agencies: New powers and responsibilities.
• Journalists: Enhanced protections for journalistic sources.
• Communications providers: Required to comply with telecommunications restriction orders.
• Individuals involved in money laundering: Changes to civil liability for disclosures.

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