Sexual Assault and Other Sexual Offences

Sexual offences law encompass a broad range of sexual acts including:

• rape (sexual penetration without consent),
• sexual assault,
• incest (sexual acts with a family member),
• sex slavery,
• possessing or producing child sexual abuse material,
• grooming children for sexual activity (child under the age of 16),
• sexual harassment, and
• sexual exposure

Sexual offences demand considered and careful inquiry by our Courts. Sexual offending is generally regarded as a particularly grave and concerning type of behaviour, calling for strict punishment and close monitoring.

Increasingly, the justice system is becoming alert to the need to efficiently and smoothly deal with sexual offences. Many provisions are now in place to protect complainants in sexual matters as much as possible. Provisions include special hearings, where child complainants give pre-recorded evidence outside the courtroom without the jury. In these hearings, children will have a support worker present in the room with them.

Similarly, when cross-examined, children and other vulnerable witnesses can ask to use intermediaries. They help to interpret for the Court what the witness is trying to convey.

It is equally important that those accused with offences of a sexual nature are competently and rigorously defended. They need to understand the charges they are facing and the complicated process of facing such charges.