Minister announces new laws to protect children

New measures to combat sex offences in Northern Ireland are set to come into effect on Saturday.

Welcoming the reforms in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 that apply to Northern Ireland, Criminal Justice Minister John Spellar said the new measures were designed to protect children from adults who use various means, particularly the internet, to lure children to meetings for sexual abuse.

"The new offence of meeting a child following sexual grooming provides for a vital new level of protection for our children," the Minister said.

"We have also taken the opportunity to extend to Northern Ireland the strengthened provisions which protect children, often particularly vulnerable children, who are in relationships of trust with adults.

"These include, for example, children in the care of social services, in educational establishments or in hospitals. The new provisions identify more positions of trust, for example legal guardians and those who look after children who are subject to care or supervision orders."

The Act also creates new offences which specifically criminalise the abuse of children through prostitution and pornography. This means it will be an offence to pay for sex with a child under 18, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if the child is under 13, or 14 years if over that age. This is a distinct increase in the current maximum sentences of 10 years for indecent assault or two years for unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 17 but over 14.

The Act also repeals the 1997 Sex Offenders Act and introduces a newly reformed and strengthened set of provisions to protect the public from the risk posed by sex offenders in the community. Part Two of the Act includes a number of provisions which make the notification requirements stronger and easier to enforce.

(MB)