Bill aims to prevent sexual abuse

July 25, 2002 in Adult safeguarding, Disability, Sexual exploitation

A private members bill amending the law on sex
offences against vulnerable adults got its first reading in the
House of Lords last week.

The
bill, introduced by Mencap president Lord Rix, calls for sex with a
person with a severe learning difficulty who is unable to consent
to sexual activity to be made a criminal offence, and for the
development of a new test to determine a person’s capacity to
consent to sexual activity.

The
bill also states it should be a criminal offence for an individual
working in a residential home to have sex with a person with
learning difficulties in that care setting.