Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1992 c. 34 |
Sexual Offences(Amendment) Act 1992
1992 CHAPTER 34
An Act to make provision with respect to anonymity in connection with allegations of, and criminal proceedings relating to, certain sexual offences.
[16th March 1992]
B e 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:—
1 Anonymity of victims of certain offences.
(1) Where an allegation has been made that an offence to which this Act applies has been committed against a person, neither the name nor address, and no still or moving picture, of that person shall during that person's lifetime—
(a) be published in England and Wales in a written publication available to the public; or
(b) be included in a relevant programme for reception in England and Wales,
if it is likely to lead members of the public to identify that person as the person against whom the offence is alleged to have been committed.
(2) Where a person is accused of an offence to which this Act applies, no matter likely to lead members of the public to identify a person as the person against whom the offence is alleged to have been committed (‘the complainant’) shall during the complainant's lifetime—
(a) be published in England and Wales in a written publication available to the public; or
(b) be included in a relevant programme for reception in England and Wales.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) are subject to any direction given under section 3.
(4) Nothing in this section prohibits the publication or inclusion in a relevant programme of matter consisting only of a report of criminal proceedings other than proceedings at, or intended to lead to, or on an appeal arising out of, a trial at which the accused is charged with the offence.
2 Offences to which this Act applies.
(1) This Act applies to the following offences—
(a) any offence under any of the provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 mentioned in subsection (2);
(b) any offence under section 128 of the Mental Health Act 1959 (intercourse with mentally handicapped person by hospital staff etc.);
(c) any offence under section 1 of the Indecency with Children Act 1960 (indecent conduct towards young child);
(d) any offence under section 54 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (incitement by man of his grand-daughter, daughter or sister under the age of 16 to commit incest with him);
(e) any attempt to commit any of the offences mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d).
(2) The provisions of the Act of 1956 are—
(a) section 2 (procurement of a woman by threats);
(b) section 3 (procurement of a woman by false pretences);
(c) section 4 (administering drugs to obtain intercourse with a woman);
(d) section 5 (intercourse with a girl under the age of 13);
(e) section 6 (intercourse with a girl between the ages of 13 and 16);
(f) section 7 (intercourse with a mentally handicapped person);
(g) section 9 (procurement of a mentally handicapped person);
(h) section 10 (incest by a man);
(i) section 11 (incest by a woman);
(j) section 12 (buggery);
(k) section 14 (indecent assault on a woman);
(l) section 15 (indecent assault on a man);
(m) section 16 (assault with intent to commit buggery).
3 Power to displace section 1.
(1) If, before the commencement of a trial at which a person is charged with an offence to which this Act applies, he or another person against whom the complainant may be expected to give evidence at the trial, applies to the judge for a direction under this subsection and satisfies the judge—
(a) that the direction is required for the purpose of inducing persons who are likely to be needed as witnesses at the trial to come forward; and
(b) that the conduct of the applicant's defence at the trial is likely to be substantially prejudiced if the direction is not given,
the judge shall direct that section 1 shall not, by virtue of the accusation alleging the offence in question, apply in relation to the complainant.
(2) If at a trial the judge is satisfied—
(a) that the effect of section 1 is to impose a substantial and unreasonable restriction upon the reporting of proceedings at the trial, and
(b) that it is in the public interest to remove or relax the restriction,
he shall direct that that section shall not apply to such matter as is specified in the direction.
(3) A direction shall not be given under subsection (2) by reason only of the outcome of the trial.
(4) If a person who has been convicted of an offence and has given notice of appeal against the conviction, or notice of an application for leave so to appeal, applies to the appellate court for a direction under this subsection and satisfies the court—
(a) that the direction is required for the purpose of obtaining evidence in support of the appeal; and
(b) that the applicant is likely to suffer substantial injustice if the direction is not given,
the court shall direct that section 1 shall not, by virtue of an accusation which alleges an offence to which this Act applies and is specified in the direction, apply in relation to a complainant so specified.
(5) A direction given under any provision of this section does not affect the operation of section 1 at any time before the direction is given.
(6) In subsections (1) and (2), ‘judge’ means—
(a) in the case of an offence which is to be tried summarily or for which the mode of trial has not been determined, any justice of the peace acting for the petty sessions area concerned; and
(b) in any other case, any judge of the Crown Court.
(7) If, after the commencement of a trial at which a person is charged with an offence to which this Act applies, a new trial of the person for that offence is ordered, the commencement of any previous trial shall be disregarded for the purposes of subsection (1).
4 Special rules for cases of incest or buggery.
(1) In this section—
‘section 10 offence’ means an offence under section 10 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 (incest by a man) or an attempt to commit that offence;
‘section 11 offence’ means an offence under section 11 of that Act (incest by a woman) or an attempt to commit that offence;
‘section 12 offence’ means an offence under section 12 of that Act (buggery) or an attempt to commit that offence.
(2) Section 1 does not apply to a woman against whom a section 10 offence is alleged to have been committed if she is accused of having committed a section 11 offence against the man who is alleged to have committed the section 10 offence against her.
(3) Section 1 does not apply to a man against whom a section 11 offence is alleged to have been committed if he is accused of having committed a section 10 offence against the...
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