Member

The amendments will strengthen the law on sexual offences involving animals. We are replacing the existing offence of intercourse with an animal with an offence of sexual activity with an animal. The new offence is deliberately broader than the existing one. It captures the intentional touching of an animal, whether living or dead, and where that touching is sexual, and where an individual knows, or is reckless as to whether, what is touched is an animal. That better reflects the reality of this kind of behaviour and ensures that the law is fit for purpose.