Sexual Offences Act (with its many variations) is a stock short title used for legislation in the United Kingdom relating to sexual offences (including both substantive and procedural provisions).
The Bill for an Act with this short title will have been known as a Sexual Offences Bill during its passage through Parliament.
Sexual Offences Acts may be a generic name either for legislation bearing that short title or for all legislation which relates to the criminal law. It is a term of art.
Famous quotes containing the words offences and/or act:
“A strong argument for the religion of Christ is this—that offences against Charity are about the only ones which men on their death-beds can be made—not to understand—but to feel—as crime.”
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1845)
“The experience of a sense of guilt for wrong-doing is necessary for the development of self-control. The guilt feelings will later serve as a warning signal which the child can produce himself when an impulse to repeat the naughty act comes over him. When the child can produce his on warning signals, independent of the actual presence of the adult, he is on the way to developing a conscience.”
—Selma H. Fraiberg (20th century)