Sexual Offences Act 1956

Part II E+W Offences other than felonies and attempts at felonies

Offence	Mode of Prosecution	Punishment	Provisions as to alternative verdicts etc.
7.(a) Procurement of woman by threats (section two).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
(b) An attempt to commit this offence.	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
8.Procurement of woman by false pretences (section three).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
9.Administering drugs to obtain or facilitate intercourse (section four).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
10.(a) Intercourse with girl [F2 under 16] (section six).	On indictment, F1 . . . ; a prosecution may not be commenced more than twelve months after the offence charged.	Two years
(b) An attempt to commit this offence.	On indictment, F1 . . . ; a prosecution may not be commenced more than twelve months after the offence charged.	Two years
11.(a)Intercourse with [F3 defective] (section seven).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
(b)An attempt to commit this offence.	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
12. F4 . . .
13.(a)Procurement of defective (section nine).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
(b)An attempt to commit this offence.	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
14.(a) Incest by a man (section ten).	On indictment, F1 . . . ; a prosecution may not be commenced [F5 except by or with the consent] of the Director of Public Prosecutions F6 . . .	If with a girl under thirteen, and so charged in the indictment, life; otherwise seven years.	The jury may find the accused guilty— (i)of intercourse with a girl under thirteen (section five); or (ii)of intercourse with a girl between thirteen and sixteen (section six); (iii) F7 . . .
(b)An attempt to commit this offence.	On indictment, F1 . . . ; a prosecution may not be commenced [F5 except by or with the consent] of the Director of Public Prosecutions F6 . . .	[F8 If with a girl under thirteen who is stated to have been so in the indictment, seven years; otherwise two years.]
15.(a) Incest by a woman (section eleven)	On indictment, F1 . . . ; a prosecution may not be commenced [F5 except by or with the consent] of the Director of Public Prosecutions F6 . . .	Seven years
(b)An attempt to commit this offence.	On indictment, F1 . . . ; a prosecution may not be commenced [except by or with the consent] of the Director of Public Prosecutions	Two years
16. (a) Indecency between men (section thirteen).	On indictment F1 . . . ;	[F9 If by a man of or over the age of twenty-one with a man under that age, five years: otherwise two years.]
(b)An attempt to procure the commission by a man of an act of gross indecency with another man.	On indictment, F1 . . .	[F9 If the attempt is by a man of or over the age of twenty-one to procure a man under that age to commit an act of gross indecency with another man, five years; otherwise two years.]
17. Indecent assault on a woman (section fourteen).	(i)On indictment [F10 (ii)summarily (by virtue of [F11 section 17(1) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980])]	[F12 Ten years] [F13 As provided by [F14 section 32(1) of that Act] (that is to say, six months or the prescribed sum within the meaning of that section, or both)]
18. Indecent assault on a man (section fifteen).	(i) On indictment [F10 (ii) summarily (by virtue of [F11 section 17(1) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980]]	Ten years [F13 As provided by [F14 section 32(1) of that Act] (that is to say, six months or the prescribed sum within the meaning of that section, or both)]
19.Assault with intent to commit buggery (section sixteen).	On indictment	Ten years
20.Abduction of girl under eighteen from parent or guardian (section nineteen).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
21.Abduction of girl under sixteen from parent or guardian (section twenty).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
22.Abduction of defective from parent or guardian (section twenty-one).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
23. (a) Causing prostitution of a woman (section twenty-two)	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
(b)An attempt to commit this offence	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
24. (a)Procuration of girl under twenty-one (section twenty-three).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
(b)An attempt to commit this offence.	Two years
25.Detention of woman in brothel (section twenty-four).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
26.Permitting girl [F2 under 16] to use premises for intercourse (section twenty-six).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years	F15 . . .
27.Permitting defective to use premises for intercourse (section twenty-seven).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
28.Causing or encouraging prostitution, etc., of girl under sixteen (section twenty-eight).	On indictment	Two years
29.Causing or encouraging prostitution of defective (section twenty-nine).	On indictment, F1 . . .	Two years
30.Living on earnings of prostitution (section thirty).	(i) On indictment (ii) Summarily	[F16 Seven years] Six months	F17 . . .
31. Controlling a prostitute (section thirty-one).	(i)On indictment (ii) Summarily	[F16 Seven years] Six months	F17 . . .
32. Solicitation by a man (section thirty-two).	(i) On indictment (ii) Summarily	Two years Six months	F17 . . .
33. Keeping a brothel (section thirty-three).	Summarily F17 . . .	For an offence committed after a previous conviction, six months, or two hundred and fifty pounds, or both; otherwise, three months, or one hundred pounds, or both.	A conviction of an offence punishable under section thirty-four, thirty-five or thirty-six of this Act, or under section thirteen of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 (the section replaced for England and Wales by sections thirty-three to thirty-six of this Act), shall be taken into account as a previous conviction in the same way as a conviction of an offence punishable under section thirty-three of this Act.
34. Letting premises for use as brothel (section thirty-four).	Summarily F17 . . .	For an offence committed after a previous conviction, six months, or two hundred and fifty pounds, or both; otherwise, three months, or one hundred pounds, or both.	A conviction of an offence punishable under section thirty-three, thirty-five or thirty-six of this Act, or under section thirteen of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 (the section replaced for England and Wales by sections thirty-three to thirty-six of this Act), shall be taken into account as a previous conviction in the same way as a conviction of an offence punishable under section thirty-four of this Act.
35. Tenant permitting premises to be used as brothel (section thirty-five).	Summarily F17 . . .	For an offence committed after a previous conviction, six months, or two hundred and fifty pounds, or both; otherwise, three months, or one hunderd pounds, or both.	A conviction of an offence punishable under section thirty-three, thirty-four or thirty-six of this Act, or under section thirteen of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 (the section replaced for England and Wales by sections thirty-three to thirty-six of this Act), shall be taken into account as a previous conviction in the same way as a conviction of an offence punishable under section thirty-five of this Act.
36. Tenant permitting premises to be used for prostitution (section thirty-six).	Summarily F17 . . .	For an offence committed after a previous conviction, six months, or two hundred and fifty pounds, or both; otherwise, three months, or one hundred pounds, or both.	A conviction of an offence punishable under section thirty-three, thirty-four or thirty-five of this Act, or under section thirteen of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 (the section replaced for England and Wales by sections thirty-three to thirty-six of this Act), shall be taken into account as a previous conviction in the same way as a conviction of an offence punishable under section thirty-six of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV

F2 Words substituted by Criminal Law Act 1967 (c. 58), Sch. 2 para. 14

F3 Words substituted by Mental Health Act 1959 (c. 72), Sch. 7 Pt. I

F4 Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 12 repealed by Mental Health Act 1959 (c. 72), Sch. 8 Pt. I

F5 Words substituted by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 12

F6 Words repealed by Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 (c. 59), Sch. 6 Pt. I

F7 Word "or" and para. (iii) repealed by Criminal Law Act 1967 (c. 58), Sch. 3 Pt. III

F8 Words substituted by Indecency with Children Act 1960 (c. 33), s. 2(3)

F9 Words substituted by Sexual Offences Act 1967 (c. 60), s. 3(4)

F10 Words in sub para. (ii) substituted by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 12

F11 Words substituted by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43, SIF 82), Sch. 7 para. 18(a)

F12 Words substituted by Sexual Offences Act 1985 (c. 44, SIF 39:5), s. 3(3)

F13 Words substituted by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 12

F14 Words substituted by Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (c. 43, SIF 82), Sch. 7 para. 18(b)

F15 Words in Sch. 2 Pt. II para. 26 repealed by Criminal Law Act 1967 (c. 58), Sch. 3 Pt. III

F16 Words substituted by Street Offences Act 1959 (c. 57), s. 4

F17 Words repealed by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 13

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 2 Pt. II paras 33-36: Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c. 48, SIF 39:1), ss. 35 (in relation to liability on first and subsequent convictions), 38 (increase of fines) and 46 (substitution of references to levels on the standard scale) apply (E.W.)