Tougher sexual offences laws come into force

The new Act will replace all current sexual offences legislation

New sexual offences laws brought into force will better protect Manx residents from "insidious and heinous crimes", the home affairs minister has said.

The Sexual Offences and Obscene Publications Act 2021 has seen legislation updated to introduce specific offences including revenge porn and upskirting, with a punishment of up to three years in custody.

Jane Poole-Wilson said there was a "significant public desire to ensure the most vulnerable in our community are protected from those who seek to perpetrate harm".

The Act also grants anonymity to suspects and defendants in sexual offences cases prior to any conviction.

However, that provision would not be unconditional and could be lifted if deemed to be in the public interest or essential to encourage witnesses to come forward.

'Secure island'

The updated legislation has also outlawed conversion therapy, updated child abuse and child exploitation offences, and increased maximum penalties.

Sexual harm prevention orders and sexual risk orders would also allow the police to place more stringent controls on those they believe pose a sexual risk to others.

The changes were a "key part of ensuring we have a secure island where everyone feels safe" Ms Poole-Wilson said in Tynwald as regulations to support he laws were approved.

She said the act, which received Royal Assent in July 2021, had seen a "great deal of operational reorganisation and training" to make sure all services involved would be properly prepared and "the powers in the act can be used to best affect".

The minister said the enactment would ensure there were "appropriate and robust punishments" in place for "those insidious and heinous crimes that take away a victims' ownership of their body".

A section of the Act, which could see teachers, nurses or social workers who discover child abuse and do not report it be subject to an offence, has been delayed by three months to allow for training.