Scotland’s 10-year grooming sentence

Grooming of children for abuse will be punishable by a maximum
10-year jail sentence, under a range of proposed legal reforms
launched last week by the Scottish executive.

The changes, outlined in a three-month consultation paper, include
banning people who are potential sex offenders from loitering near
schools or contacting children.

Risk of sexual harm orders will be introduced under the Protection
of Children from Sexual Harm and Prevention of Sexual Offences
(Scotland) Bill.

They will allow a chief constable to limit the freedom of anyone
believed to be a risk to children but who has committed no
offence.

Tam Baillie, assistant policy director for Barnardo’s Scotland,
said he welcomed the introduction of the orders.

He said they could create an option for intervention and
prosecution at an earlier stage of the process.

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