Sexual offences in the United Kingdom


There are a number of sexual offences under the law of England and Wales, the law of Scotland, and the law of Northern Ireland.
Rape is defined the same way for all three legal systems as:
It is therefore only legally possible for a female to be guilty of rape if they assist a male assailant in an attack on a third party. Otherwise, a female can be charged with assault by penetration, which carries similar sentences to rape. If a man has sex with someone under the age of 16 then he is also guilty of rape as a child cannot lawfully consent to sex.
Of women aged 16 to 59 in England & Wales interviewed for the 2006/07 British Crime Survey, 0.5% reported that they had suffered rape or attempted rape in the previous year, equating to approximately 85,000 nationally. In the same year, less than 800 persons were convicted of rape.

England and Wales

The following offences are created for England and Wales by the Sexual Offences Act 2003:
For other offences, see Prostitution in the United Kingdom.

Abolished offences

See History of English criminal law#Sexual Offences

Northern Ireland

The following offences are created by the Sexual Offences Order 2008:
The following offences are created by the Sexual Offences Act 2009:
For other offences, see Prostitution in the United Kingdom
Offences under the former law: