I'm struggling with this legislation. The Act covers everything from child sex offences and indecent photographs to internet grooming, voyeurism and necrophilia. It updates legislation that harked back to the 1950s, when lifestyles, technologies and attitudes were a bit different from those of today.
When men were boys and women were housewives? That's a bit simplistic.
The Act splits into two: new provisions for sexual offences, and measures to protect the public from sexual harm. Importantly, "consent" refers to a person who agrees by choice and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice. The age of consent remains 16 for both homosexual and heterosexual activity. However, 13 is the absolute lower age of consent under which a child is deemed incapable of making an informed choice and giving consent.
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