Legislation – Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

New Search

Introduction

PART 1
Sexual offences

CHAPTER 1 Criminal conduct

1 Voyeurism: additional offences

2 Sending etc an unwanted sexual image

3 Amendments consequential on sections 1 and 2

4 Sexual grooming: pretending to be a child

5 Abuse of position of trust: relevant positions

6 Private sexual images: threatening to disclose

7 Miscellaneous amendments as to sexual offences

CHAPTER 2 Anonymity and privacy

Anonymity of victims

8 Extended anonymity of victims

9 Disapplication of anonymity of victim after death

10 Increase in penalty for breach of anonymity

11 Special rules for providers of information society services

Anonymity of suspects

12 Restriction on reports as to suspects of sexual offences

13 Meaning of sexual offence in section 12

14 Power to disapply reporting restriction

15 Magistrates’ courts rules

16 Offence relating to reporting

17 Interpretation of sections 12 to 16

18 Consequential amendment

Exclusion from proceedings

19 Serious sexual offences: exclusion of public from court

CHAPTER 3 Guidance on this part

20 Guidance about this Part

PART 2
Trafficking and exploitation

21 Support for victims of trafficking etc

22 Defence for slavery and trafficking victims

23 Strategies on slavery and trafficking offences

24 Protective measures for victims of slavery or trafficking

PART 3
Protection from harm

CHAPTER 1 Prevention orders

25 Qualifying offences for sexual offences prevention orders

26 Time limit for making violent offences prevention orders

CHAPTER 2 Causing or risking serious harm

27 Consent to harm for sexual gratification is no defence

28 Offence of non-fatal strangulation or asphyxiation

PART 4
Final provisions

29 Ancillary regulations

30 Commencement

31 Short title

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 Consequential amendments: voyeurism and unwanted sexual images

SCHEDULE 2 Miscellaneous amendments as to sexual offences

SCHEDULE 3 Offence of breach of anonymity: providers of information society services

SCHEDULE 4 Offence of non-fatal strangulation or asphyxiation: consequential amendments

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1Consequential amendments: voyeurism and unwanted sexual images

Section 3.

Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (NI 12)

1

In Article 53A(2) (questioning and treatment of persons by police: meaning of “qualifying offence”), in sub-paragraph (s), for “to 71” substitute “to 71B, 72A”.

Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 (c. 34)

2

In section 2(3) (offences under law of Northern Ireland to which the Act applies), in paragraph (hb)(ii), after “71,” insert “71A, 71B, 72A”.

Industrial Tribunals (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI 18)

3

In Article 13(4) (power to provide for restriction of publicity in certain cases), in paragraph (b)(viii) of the definition of “sexual offence”, after “71” insert “, 71A, 71B, 72A”.

Sexual Offences Act 2003 (c. 42)

4

In Schedule 3 (sexual offences for purposes of notification requirements), after paragraph 92V insert—

“92VA

(1)

An offence under Article 71A or 71B of that Order (voyeurism: additional offences) if—

(a)

the offence was committed for the purpose mentioned in Articles 71A(2)(a)(i) and (5)(a)(i) and 71B(2)(a)(i) and (5)(a)(i) (sexual gratification), and

(b)

the relevant condition is met.

(2)

Where the offender was under 18, the relevant condition is that the offender is or has been sentenced in respect of the offence to imprisonment for a term of at least 12 months.

(3)

In any other case, the relevant condition is that—

(a)

the victim was under 18, or

(b)

the offender, in respect of the offence or finding, is or has been—

(i)

sentenced to a term of imprisonment,

(ii)

detained in a hospital, or

(iii)

made the subject of a community sentence of at least 12 months.

92VB

(1)

An offence under Article 72A of that Order (sending etc an unwanted sexual image) if—

(a)

the offence was committed for the purpose mentioned in Article 72A(3)(a) (sexual gratification), and

(b)

the relevant condition is met.

(2)

Where the offender was under 18, the relevant condition is that the offender is or has been sentenced in respect of the offence to imprisonment for a term of at least 12 months.

(3)

In any other case, the relevant condition is that—

(a)

the victim was under 18, or

(b)

the offender, in respect of the offence or finding, is or has been—

(i)

sentenced to a term of imprisonment,

(ii)

detained in a hospital, or

(iii)

made the subject of a community sentence of at least 12 months.”.

Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (NI 1)

5

In Part 2 of Schedule 2 (specified sexual offences), in paragraph 14A, for the words from “Article 71 (exposure),” to the end of the paragraph substitute—

“Article 70 (exposure),

Article 71 (voyeurism),

Article 71A (voyeurism: additional offences (genitals and buttocks)),

Article 71B (voyeurism: additional offences (breasts)),

Article 72A (sending etc an unwanted sexual image),

Article 73 (intercourse with an animal),

Article 74 (sexual penetration of a corpse).”.