HOME OFFICE News
Release (130/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 11 July 2008
People who commit
sex offences against children abroad will face prosecution in the
UK, even if that offence is not illegal in the foreign country it
was committed, Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker announced today.
The new legislation, contained in the Criminal Justice and
Immigration Act 2008, will come into effect from Monday 14 July.
It means that UK nationals who commit a specified sexual offence
against a child overseas which may not be an offence in that
country but is an offence here can expect to be prosecuted for the
offence on their return to the UK. For example, in some countries
possession of indecent images of children is not an offence or the
age of consent is lower than 16 years.
Home Office Minister
Vernon Coaker said:
"We already have some of the toughest sex offences
legislation in the world but we are determined to do everything we
can to protect the most vulnerable, at home and abroad.
"From 14 July, anyone who commits an offence against
children abroad will face the prospect of prosecution for the same
offence here even though it may not have been offence in that country.
"As a result I hope this new law will send a tough message
to deter travelling sex tourists."
The UK has some of the most stringent child protection laws in
the world and has strong networks with international police and
child protection agencies to share information of concern,
particularly around known child sex offenders.
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the Child Exploitation and Online
Protection Centre, said:
"The sexual abuse of children is the worst crime imaginable.
No offender should be able to escape to foreign jurisdictions in
order to abuse children and young people, or possess images and
materials that show sexual exploitation without living in fear of
UK police working with their international counterparts to bring
that person to account.
"This measure is a significant step forward and sends out a
very clear and unequivocal message to offenders everywhere - and
no matter whether they are in the UK or abroad - we will track
you, we will bring you to account and you will face the
consequences of your criminal actions. Every child no matter where
they live deserves that protection."
NOTE TO EDITORS
1. The Government recently signed the Council of Europe's
Convention on the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation
and Abuse. This sets standards to ensure that countries
criminalise the sexual exploitation and abuse of children and
adopt similar standards of investigation and prosecution of these
crimes. It also includes measures on exchanging the identity of
convicted sex offenders with other countries. The UK is aiming to
ratify the Convention as soon as possible.