---
title: "Sexual Offences Act 1993"
id: bf71c29d-abad-41dd-b519-279bba8f68ae
authority: uk
place: "United Kingdom"
applies_also_from: []
kind: statute
in_force: true
publisher_url: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1993/30
attribution: "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
solon_url: https://solon.orangecat.ch/law/bf71c29d-abad-41dd-b519-279bba8f68ae
language: en
in_force_from: 1993-09-20
date_basis: publisher
status: consolidated
source_url: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1993/30/data.xml
read_on: 2026-11-08
sha256: 8109c66dea77c65333250943f408dad132955b0c166420d1b9c6a57a989326ef
provisions: 3
---

# Sexual Offences Act 1993

## Title and introductory text {#prelims}

Sexual Offences Act 1993
1993 c. 30
An Act to abolish the presumption of criminal law that a boy under the age of fourteen is incapable of sexual intercourse.
[20th July 1993]
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

## 1 Abolition of presumption of sexual incapacity. {#section-1}

The presumption of criminal law that a boy under the age of fourteen is incapable of sexual intercourse (whether natural or unnatural) is hereby abolished.

## 2 Short title, commencement and extent. {#section-2}

(1) This Act may be cited as the Sexual Offences Act 1993.
(2) This Act shall come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which it is passed.
(3) This Act does not apply to acts done before its commencement.
(4) This Act extends to England and Wales only.