Sexual violence: Changes in the law

The Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2008 came into effect on 2 February 2009.

The new law makes a number of changes to what constitutes sexual offending behaviour, including:

• new responsibilities surrounding consent to sex
• a new definition of rape and other sexual offences
• many new offences of offending behaviour against children, some up to age 18
• sexual abuse within family situations will be targeted
• heavier penalties, many of which are life imprisonment
• new offences relating to sexual activity with people who have a mental disorder
• new offences associated with prostitution
• illegal indecent images of children now includes images of children up to age 18

General explanatory leaflets

There are a series of leaflets available in PDF format which provide detailed information about what you need to know. The leaflets are:

• Safer from sexual crime: how the law is protecting you (PDF 153 KB)
• Safer from sexual crime: protecting children and young people (PDF 160 KB)
• Working within the Sexual Offences Order 2008 (PDF 732 KB)
• Help with PDF files

Short leaflets on important topics

• Sex and consent: what you need to know (PDF 130 KB)
• Sex, young people and the law: what you need to know (PDF 127 KB)
• Adult sexual offending against children: the law (PDF 112 KB)
• Sex and the vulnerable: what you need to know (PDF 109 KB)
• The law and prostitution: what you need to know (PDF 118 KB)
• Help with PDF files

Other information

• Explanatory guidance on the Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2008 (PDF 319 KB)
• Banner advert to raise awareness among students of the implications of sex without consent (PDF 136 KB)
• Help with PDF files
• Child protection guidance for practitioners and professionals from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety