Online Safety Act 2023

PART 2 Amendments consequential on offence in section 184

Children and Young Persons Act 1933

6 In Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (offences against children and young persons with respect to which special provisions of Act apply), after the entry relating to the Suicide Act 1961 insert—

• “An offence under section 184(1) of the Online Safety Act 2023 (encouraging or assisting serious self-harm) where the relevant act is an act capable of, and done with the intention of, encouraging or assisting the serious self-harm of a child or young person.”

Visiting Forces Act 1952

7 (1) The Schedule to the Visiting Forces Act 1952 (offences referred to in section 3) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph 1(b), after paragraph (xv) insert—

“(xvi) section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023;”.

(3) In paragraph 2(b), after paragraph (iv) insert—

“(v) section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023;”.

Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 34 (N.I.))

8 In Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (offences against children and young persons with respect to which special provisions of Act apply), after the entry relating to the Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 insert—

• “An offence under section 184(1) of the Online Safety Act 2023 (encouraging or assisting serious self-harm) where the relevant act is an act capable of, and done with the intention of, encouraging or assisting the serious self-harm of a child or young person.”

Criminal Attempts Act 1981

9 In section 1 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 (attempting to commit an offence), in subsection (4), after paragraph (c) insert—

“(d) an offence under section 184(1) of the Online Safety Act 2023 (encouraging or assisting serious self-harm).”

Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (S.I. 1983/1120 (N.I. 13))

10 In Article 3 of the Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (attempting to commit an offence), in paragraph (4), after sub-paragraph (c) insert—

“(ca) an offence under section 184(1) of the Online Safety Act 2023 (encouraging or assisting serious self-harm);”.

Armed Forces Act 2006

11 In Schedule 2 to the Armed Forces Act 2006 (“Schedule 2 offences”), in paragraph 12, at the end insert—

“(ba) an offence under section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023 (encouraging or assisting serious self-harm).”

Serious Crime Act 2007

12 (1) The Serious Crime Act 2007 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 51A (exceptions to section 44 for encouraging or assisting suicide)—

(a) the existing text becomes subsection (1);

(b) after that subsection insert—

“(2) Section 44 does not apply to an offence under section 184(1) of the Online Safety Act 2023 (offence of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm).”;

(c) in the heading, at the end insert “or serious self-harm”.

(3) In Part 1 of Schedule 3 (listed offences: England and Wales and Northern Ireland), after paragraph 24A insert—

“Online Safety Act 2023

24B An offence under section 184(1) of the Online Safety Act 2023 (encouraging or assisting serious self-harm).”