Clause 18 - Abuse of position of trust: sexual activity with a child
Sexual Offences Bill [Lords]
2:45 pm
Mr Paul Goggins (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office; Wythenshawe and Sale East, Labour)
This is helping to keep me on my toes after lunch.
In clause 18 and subsequent clauses, we are re-enacting in its entirety the existing abuse of trust offence, which came into force in January 2001, under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000. It is clear that Committee members appreciate that it is important that we now consolidate that in this legislation.
On the belief about age question, I say to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Redcar that that evidential burden is placed on the defendant here because adults in a position of trust should be expected to know the age of the child: anyone who is in a position of trust with regard to a child should know precisely how old that child is. We regard that as a fundamental responsibility.
I suspect that the hon. Member for Beaconsfield was making a slightly different point. He has promised that we will address it later, and I hope that I will be able to respond to it more fully then.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 18 ordered to stand part of the Bill.