HL Deb 14 October 1997 vol 582 cc112-3WA
Lord Robertson of Oakridge

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the legal definition of the term "paedophile", and which Acts define offences committed by paedophiles.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

There is no legal definition of the term "paedophile". The Oxford English Dictionary offers the following definition: "a person with paedophilia, i.e. an abnormal especially sexual love of children". The main sexual offences against children are listed below:

(i) offences under the following provisions of the Sexual Offences Act 1956:

  1. (a) Section 1 (rape)
  2. (b) Section 5 (intercourse with a girl under 13)
  3. (c) Section 6 (intercourse with a girl between 13 and 16)
  4. (d) Section 10 (incest by a man)
  5. (e) Section 12 (buggery)
  6. (f) Section 13 (indecency between men)
  7. (g) Section 14 (indecent assault on a woman)
  8. (h) Section 15 (indecent assault on a man)
  9. (i) Section 16 (assault with intent to commit buggery)
  10. (j) Section 28 (causing or encouraging prostitution of, intercourse with, or indecent assault on, a girl under 16)

(ii) an offence under Section 1(1) of the Indecency with Children Act 1960 (indecent conduct towards young child)

(iii) an offence under Section 54 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (inciting a girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse)

(iv) an offence under Section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978 (indecent photographs of children)

(v) an offence under Section 170 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (penalty for fraudulent evasion of duty etc) in relation to goods prohibited to be imported under Section 42 of the Customs Consolidation Act 1876 (prohibitions and restrictions); and

(vi) an offence under Section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (possession of indecent photographs of children).