UK to criminalize sexual encounters by sport coaches with 16 and 17-year-olds
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The United Kingdom has moved to transform into a criminal offence for sport coaches and priests to have sexual encounters by with 16 and 17-year-olds in their care. The new law will bring sports coaches and religious leaders into line with teachers and doctors and follows cases of sexual predators exploiting their influence on young people and making them vulnerable to abuse. Until now, while sports coaches and religious persons could be sacked from their post for such acts, they would not be liable to any criminal proceedngs.
In a huge piece of new crime legislation being introduced in the Commons, Government is seeking to prevent adults in positions of trust from engaging in sexual relationships with young people under 18.
The abuse crackdown is contained in a massive Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which includes longer jail terms for a wide range of crimes, up to 10 years for vandalising memorials and new curbs on travellers’ sites and political demonstrations. The new legislation introduces life sentences for killer drivers, child killers and terrorists, two-year jail terms for assaults on emergency workers instead of 12 months, a crackdown on knife crime with new stop and search powers and no more automatic early release for violent and sex offenders.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said: “This government has pledged to crack down on crime and build safer communities. Today we are delivering on that commitment.
“We are giving the police and courts the powers they need to keep our streets safe, while providing greater opportunities for offenders to turn their lives around and better contribute to society.
“At the same time, we are investing hundreds of millions to deliver speedier justice and boost support for victims, and will continue to do everything it takes to build back confidence in the criminal justice system.”
