ABSTRACT
The term ‘sexual offences’ covers a very wide range of activities from key offences such as rape and sexual assault, through to exhibitionism, voyeurism, bestiality, offences related to prostitution and offences against minors and those lacking the ability to consent to sexual activity. In a sense some of these offences can be seen as aggravated forms of assault, for example the offence of ‘sexual assault’ (prior to 2003, known as indecent assault). The prohibited activities are regarded as meriting specific prohibition as sexual offences, partly to provide the appropriate label to the defendant’s behaviour, partly to provide for enhanced powers of sentencing, and partly to reflect the stigma attached to sexual offences. There may also be repercussions for the defendant in terms of being placed on the sex offenders’ register.
