XN000022-1977-01-14 — Page 2

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1977

TOUGHER LAWS FOR SEX OFFENCES PROPOSED

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A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO OVERHAUL THE LAW RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN BY INCLUDING NEW OFFENCES AND RAISING THE PENALTIES IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.

KNOWN AS THE CRIMES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977, IT AIMS TO AMEND THE CRIMES ORDINANCE BY ADDING A NEW PART XII HEADED +SEXUAL OFFENCES AND INDECENCY+.

THE INCLUSION OF THE NEW HEADING IS INTENDED TO REPLACE A TOTAL OF 29 SECTIONS OF THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE, THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ORDINANCE AND THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE.

THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY. IF ENACTED, IT WILL PROVIDE FOR THE INCREASE IN PENALTY FOR MOST OF THE SEXUAL OFFENCES.

THE OFFENCES WHICH WILL CARRY A MAXIMUM 10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT ARE ASSAULT ON WOMAN WITH INTENT TO COMMIT RAPE PERMITTING DEFECTIVE (PERSON WITH INCOMPLETE DEVELOPMENT OF MIND) TO RESORT TO OR BE ON PREMISES OR VESSEL FOR PROSTITUTION OR INTERCOURSE AND CAUSING OR ENCOURAGING PROSTITUTION OF DEFECTIVE.

TENANT PERMITTING PREMISES OR VESSEL TO BE USED FOR PROSTITUTION WILL CARRY A FINE OF $20,000 AND A JAIL SENTENCE OF TWO YEARS.

THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR JAIL TERMS ASSOCIATED WITH 14 OF THE PRESENT SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS UNDER THE AGE OF 16 TO BE INCREASED FROM TWO YEARS TO TERMS RANGING FROM FIVE YEARS TO 14 YEARS.

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THOSE OFFENCES WHICH CARRY A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 14 YEARS INCLUDE HARBOUR ING OR EXERCISING CONTROL. DIRECTION OR INFLUENCE OVER WOMAN FOR SEXUAL INTERCOURSE OR PROSTITUTION, DETENTION OF WOMEN FOR SEXUAL INTERCOURSE OR IN VICE ESTABLISHMENT AND PERMITTING GIRL UNDER 16 YEARS TO RESORT TO OR BE ON PREMISES FOR PROSTITUTION OR INTERCOURSE.

THE JAIL SENTENCE OF TWO YEARS FOR SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH A GIRL UNDER 16 YEARS IS INCREASED TO 10 YEARS.

A MAN LIVING ON EARNINGS OF PROSTITUTION WILL BE LIABLE TO BE JAILED FOR SEVEN YEARS INSTEAD OF THE PRESENT TWO YEARS. FOR WOMAN EXERCISING CONTROL OVER PROSTITUTE AND PERSON KEEPING A VICE ESTABLISHMENT THE MAXIMUM JAIL TERMS ARE TO BE INCREASED TO SEVEN YEARS.

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