Written Question·Ministry of Justice·UIN 46175

Rape

Tabled: 17 April 2025

Answered: 28 April 2025

Question

Ben Obese-Jecty

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of updating the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to reflect that rape can be committed by either sex.

Answer

Alex Davies-Jones

The offence of rape under section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 is committed whenever there is penile penetration without consent or reasonable belief in consent. Non-penile penetration without consent or reasonable belief in consent is criminalised b...

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