Overview

This bill aims to pardon individuals with past convictions or cautions for certain now-abolished sexual offences, provided the acts involved were consensual between adults at the time they were committed. It also allows for applications on behalf of deceased individuals.

Description

The Sexual Offences (Pardons Etc.) Bill pardons convictions and cautions for specific historical sexual offences that are no longer illegal. These offences include buggery (under the Sexual Offences Act 1956), gross indecency between men (under the Sexual Offences Act 1956), and related offences under the Offences against the Person Act 1861 and the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885.

Eligibility Criteria: Pardons are granted only if:

• The act was consensual.
• All parties involved were 16 or older.
• The act would not be a crime under current law.

The Secretary of State can amend these conditions through regulations. The bill does not affect existing sentences, create new rights or liabilities, or impact the royal prerogative of mercy. It also maintains the right to apply for conviction disregard under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, and extends this right to the relatives of deceased individuals.

Government Spending

The bill's impact on government spending is not explicitly stated. It is likely to involve administrative costs associated with processing pardon applications and amending existing records.

Groups Affected

• Individuals with past convictions/cautions for the specified offences: They may receive pardons, clearing their records.
• Relatives of deceased individuals with such convictions/cautions: They can apply for pardons on their behalf.
• Government agencies: They will need to implement the changes required by the bill, including updating records.

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