Clause 1 - Rape

Part of Sexual Offences Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:00 am on 9 September 2003.

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Photo of Julie Morgan Julie Morgan Labour, Cardiff North 11:00, 9 September 2003

The amendments make an important point. I do not know whether it is necessary to have their provisions in the Bill, but it is important to recognise that children must be treated differently from adults. We must recognise and treat young abusers at an early age. Research shows that the small number of young abusers become the adult abusers who cause such distress in our society. It is tremendously important to recognise that at an early age, and the way to respond to that may not be by using a custodial sentence but through intensive treatment. That is not easily available at the moment, and it is currently a bit of a postcode lottery whether someone can receive that treatment. We need to recognise young sexual abusers and treat them in a specialised way that will prevent them from becoming abusers when they are adults.