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Sexual offences in Scots law

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There are a number of sexual offences under the law of Scotland.

Common features

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General interpretation

Consent

As to consent, see sections 12 to 15 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009. As to whether a sleeping or unconscious person has capacity to consent, see section 14 of that Act. As to whether a mentally disordered person has capacity to consent, see section 17 of that Act.

Reasonable belief

As to reasonable belief, see section 16 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.

Sexual

As to the meaning of "sexual", see section 60(2) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.

Notification requirements

As to notification requirements, see sections 80 to 85, 86 to 91 and 92 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Orders

As to notification orders, see sections 97 to 100 and 102 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. (Sections 101 and 103 of that Act were repealed as to Scotland by section 170(6) of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022).

As to sexual harm prevention orders, see Chapter 3 of Part 2 of the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016 (asp 22) [that is to say, sections 10 to 25 of that Act]. As to sexual risk orders, see Chapter 4 of that Part [that is to say, sections 26 to 36 of that Act].

Jury directions

As to jury directions relating to sexual offences, see section 6 of the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016.

Procedure and evidence

As to procedure and evidence, see Sexual Offences (Procedure and Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 9)

Pardons and disregards

As to pardons and disregards, see the Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 14)

Rape

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The offence of rape is created by section 1 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.

Assault

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Coercion

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Communicating indecently

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Exposure

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  • Sexual exposure, contrary to section 8 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009

Voyeurism

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  • Voyeurism, contrary to section 9 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009

Administering substances

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Unlawful detention

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Incest and intercourse with step-children

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  • Incest, contrary to section 1 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995[1]
  • Intercourse with step-child, contrary to section 2 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995

Procuring

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  • Procuring, contrary to section 7 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995

Offences against young children

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Offences against older children

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Meeting a child

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Abuse of trust

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Sexual services of children and child pornography

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Indecent photographs

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Prostitution, seduction and premises used for intercourse by girls under 16

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Prostitution and brothels

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Soliciting

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Pornography

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Former law

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Offences under the former law:

  • Rape.[2] The common law offence of rape was abolished by section 52(a)(i) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.
  • Clandestine injury to women (e.g. sex with a sleeping woman). The common law offence of clandestine injury to women was abolished by section 52(a)(ii) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.
  • Indecent assault. (Common law).[3]
  • Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13, contrary to section 3(1) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 1976 (c 67). Repealed by Schedule 3 to the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997. The offence was replaced by a similar offence under section 5(1) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, which was in turn repealed by the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.
  • Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl between 13 and 16, contrary to section 4(1) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 1976. Repealed by Schedule 3 to the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997. The offence was replaced by a similar offence under section 5(3) of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, which was in turn repealed by the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.
  • Lewd, indecent or libidinous practice or behaviour. (Lewd, indecent or libidinous practices). The common law offence of lewd, indecent or libidinous practice or behaviour was abolished by section 52(a)(iii) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.[4]
  • Lewd, indecent or libidinous practice or behaviour towards girl between 12 and 16, contrary to section 5 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 1976. This enactment was replaced by a similar enactment under section 6 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, which was in turn repealed by the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.
  • Gross and shameless indecency between males, s.80(7) of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 (c.62); formerly s.7 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 1976.
  • Incest, s.2A. of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 1976 (added by the Incest and Related Offences (Scotland) Act 1986 (c.36), s.1; formerly the Incest Act 1567 (c.15).
  • Intercourse with a stepchild, s.2B of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 1976 (added by the Incest and Related Offences (Scotland) Act 1986).
  • Bestiality. (Common law).
  • Sodomy. The common law offence of sodomy was abolished by section 52(a)(iv) of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.

English offences taken into account under the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1922

Section 49 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 formerly extended to Scotland.

See also

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References

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  • James Chalmers. The New Law of Sexual Offences in Scotland. (Gordon's Criminal Law, supplement 1 to vol 2). W Green. 2010.
  • Alastair N Brown. Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009. Second Edition. W Green. 2015.
  • Stair Memorial Encyclopedia.
  • Andrew M Cubie. "Sexual Offences". Scots Criminal Law. Fourth Edition. Bloomsbury Professional. 2016. Chapter 11. Page 175 et seq.
  • Gerald H Gordon. "Sexual Offences". The Criminal Law of Scotland. Second Edition. 1978. Part 5. Chapters 33 to 36.
  • Claire McDiarmid. "Sexual Offences". Scottish Criminal Law Essentials. Third Edition. Edinburgh University Press. 2018. Chapter 13. Page 137 et seq.
  • Sarah Christie. "Sexual Offences". Introduction to Scots Criminal Law. Pearson Longman. 2003. Chapter 10. Page 157 et seq.
  • R A A McCall Smith and David Sheldon. "Sexual Offences". Scots Criminal Law. Second Edition. Butterworths. 1997. Chapter 11. Page 191 et seq.
  • T H Jones and M G A Christie. Criminal Law. Fourth Edition. W Green & Son. 2008. Passim. See in particular "Proposed Reform of Sexual Offences", Chapter 9, Section 7, pages 279 to 282.
  • Michael G A Christie (ed). Gerald H Gordon. "Sexual Offences". The Criminal Law of Scotland. Third Edition. W Green. 2001. Volume 2. Part 5. Chapters 33 to 36. Page 505 to 558.
  • Clare Connelly. "Sexual Offences against the Person". Criminal Law. Fifth Edition. W Green. 2013. Page 62 et seq.
  • A M Anderson. The Criminal Law of Scotland. Bell & Bradfute. Sweet & Maxwell. 1892. Pages 92 to 99.
  • J H A Macdonald. A Practical Treatise on the Criminal Law of Scotland. Second Edition. William Paterson. 1877. Pages 167 to 170 and 198 to 203.
  • James Walker and D J Stevenson. A Practical Treatise on the Criminal Law of Scotland. Fifth Edition. 1948.
  • John Erskine and John Rankine. Principles of the Law of Scotland. Pages 621 to 623.
  • Gane, Stoddart and Chalmers. "Sexual Offences". A Casebook on Scottish Criminal Law. Fourth Edition. Thomson Reuters (Legal) Limited. 2009. Chapter 9. Page 360 et seq.
  • Pamela R Ferguson. "Sexual Offences". Scots Criminal Law: A Critical Analysis. Second Edition. Edinburgh University Press. 2014. Chapter 11.
  • Peter Hamilton and J Ross Harper. "Rape" and "Incest". A Fingertip Guide to Scots Criminal Law. Sixth Edition. Bloomsbury Professional. 2013. Pages 25 to 27.
  1. ^ For commentary on this offence, see T H Jones and M G A Christie. "Incest". Criminal Law. Fourth Edition. W Green & Son. 2008. Page 374 et seq.
  2. ^ For commentary on this offence, see T H Jones and M G A Christie. "Rape". Criminal Law. Fourth Edition. W Green & Son. 2008. Chapter 9. Section 5. Page 267 et seq.
  3. ^ For commentary on this offence, see T H Jones and M G A Christie. "Consent and indecent assault". Criminal Law. Fourth Edition. W Green & Son. 2008. Page 221 et seq.
  4. ^ For commentary on this offence, see T H Jones and M G A Christie. "Lewd, indecent and libidinous practices". Criminal Law. Fourth Edition. W Green & Son. 2008. Page 222 et seq.