§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 April 2004,Official Report, column 106W, on paedophilia, for what reason the Prison Service does not have a specific offence code to cover paedophiles. [169105]
§ Paul GogginsThere is no specific offence code to cover paedophiles because there is no specific offence of "paedophilia". The sexual abuse of children can occur in a variety of ways and our law, if it is to be effective, has to reflect this. The Sexual Offences Act 2003, which came into force on 1 May 2004, includes a variety of new offences which cover various forms of sexual abuse inflicted on children.