Guernsey’s Committee for Home Affairs has proposed that the States include additional offences in the new Sexual Offences Law, such as revenge pornography and ‘upskirting’.
During the drafting of the new Law, further offences have been proposed in addition to those detailed in the then Home Department’s Policy Letter of May 2011, which have now been outlined in a newly lodged Policy Letter.
Those new offences include:
- Non-consensual offences against children under 13
- Abuse of position of trust
- Grooming
- Extreme and revenge pornography
- Voyeurism and upskirting
- Possession of paedophile materials
If the Policy Letter is approved, the Committee anticipates bringing the Sexual Offences (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2020 before the States for approval before the end of the current political term.
Whilst the new Law will introduce more targeted sexual offence legislation, the Committee says the public should be assured that it is not the case that defendants have been able to escape from prosecution as more general offences have been used to ensure that criminal behaviour has been prosecuted.
Deputy Mary Lowe, President of the Committee for Home Affairs, said: “The introduction of sexual offences legislation which is fit for these times is so important and it has been one of the Committee’s priorities throughout this political term. It will improve the enforcement of the law in this area and will be another step in ensuring the Bailiwick is kept safe and secure.’’
