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306:, these pieces of legislation were enacted to protect mainly the very young and the very wealthy. The reason for the latter was that the lawmakers at that time were concerned about the welfare of heiresses, meaning their own daughters and, by extension, those of their friends and patrons; this is why they imposed the most severe penalties on those who would seduce or abduct women without their parents' consent even though the perpetrator intended to marry his quarry. Girls over the age of 13 and the poor had little protection under this law.
24:
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same, but the fact that more cases were reported and brought to the courts was at the very least a reflection of how the law changed perceptions of how women and children should be treated. While the inclusion of
Section 11 criminalised male homosexuality, nevertheless it was connected with notions of male lust, which many felt was the root cause of vice. More than 80 years would pass before
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criminal trials and police columns between
January 1884 and September 1886 indicates that the reporting of criminal assaults, indecent assaults, and rapes enacted against minors increased dramatically after the publicity of "The Maiden Tribute" and the passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act. Where
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late in the evening of 6 August 1885. Labouchere wanted to expand its reach. The clause provided for a term of imprisonment "not exceeding two years", with or without hard labour, for any man found guilty of gross indecency with another male, whether "in public or in private". No definition was given
650:
It also had sections outlining the penalties for abduction and procuring for the purpose of prostitution for girls under the age of eighteen, as well as relaxing the rules on witness testimony: while children under the age of 12 were allowed to testify as proposed by the SPCC, it also gave the right
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was approached by
Benjamin Scott, who called his attention to its being set aside again. Stead, one of those who had been opposed to the Contagious Diseases Acts since the 1870s, was convinced to agitate popular support for protective legislation. His subsequent investigations were published in the
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The SPCC, which celebrated its first anniversary on 13 July 1885, took advantage of the resumption of the debate to make its own recommendations to the bill, including the raising of the age of consent to 18 years and more severe measures to protect children from exploitation. These proposals were
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The effect of the law became noticeable almost immediately. While few cases of sexual offences were reported before the passage of the law, the number of reported cases skyrocketed in the months afterwards, especially child molestation cases. It may be that the actual number of cases remained the
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was that any woman who happened to look like a prostitute would be subject to this law. Men, however, were not subjected even though they were equally responsible for spreading the disease. These acts were later repealed due to public pressure over the double-standard nature of these laws.
698:, who was convicted of gross indecency under this Act for homosexual acts with another man, the government announced in 2016 its intention to expand this retroactive exoneration to other men convicted of similar historical offences, through enacting what has been described as an "
567:, dropped his earlier opposition to the measure after consulting with a colleague as to the provisions of Scottish law on the subject. This was influential when the measure was once again put to a vote, and the SPCC's "oath clause" was included in the final version of the bill.
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tempted fate by reintroducing the bill a third time. While the bill passed smoothly through the Lords in May—albeit with some revisions, most notably lowering the age of consent to fifteen—it again faced an uphill battle in the
Commons, who were preparing to disband for the
372:(SPCC) were concerned about the limitation of the testimony of young children. They investigated, reported and brought to court accusations of child abuse and neglect. It was in this socio-political climate that legislation to change this was introduced in 1881.
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presented to the
Commons a clause to abolish the oath for child victims for sexual assault. However, longtime opponents of the bill fought against it and, despite the best efforts of its supporters, the SPCC's proposal was narrowly defeated 123–120.
439:, to move for a second reading of the Bill, no vote was taken on the measure by the time Parliament was adjourned on 22 May 1885. Supporters of the bill by that time feared that it would again be put aside and decided to take drastic action.
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and lightly drugged to wait for Stead, her purchaser. He entered Eliza's room and, having regarded this as confirmation that he had his way, withdrew to write his story. Eliza was turned over to the care of the
Salvation Army.
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were snapped up, often fetching premium prices. While many denounced Stead's exposé, it did what it was intended to do: it prompted
Parliament to resume the debate over the Criminal Law Amendment Bill on 9 July 1885.
408:. The committee's report made nine recommendations which became the basis for the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, including raising the age of consent to sixteen years as well as increased penalties for sexual offences.
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lists sixty-five cases between August 1885 and
September 1886. In the space of nine months after the passage of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, twelve times as many cases were reported as in the previous year and a
487:". Not only did he base his investigations on interviews with the police, as well as those who were involved in the flesh trade, he went beyond it by setting an example: he "purchased" a girl and wrote about it.
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introduced through their representatives in
Parliament. However, many members of Parliament, already infuriated by Stead's tactics, sought to obstruct any alterations to the laws.
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demurred from giving precise descriptions of activity considered immoral. In practice, "gross indecency" was widely interpreted as any male homosexual behaviour short of actual
555:, the leader of the SPCC, focusing on the fact that the proposal was defeated by only three votes, redoubled his efforts to lobby support. Along the way he managed to bring
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from 13 years of age to 16 years of age and delineated the penalties for sexual offences against women and minors. It also strengthened existing legislation against
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bank holiday on 22 May 1885 and thus rather indifferent to the bill. In addition, many
Members of Parliament were opposed to the measure, citing the curtailment of
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of a girl below the consensual age two years' imprisonment. Although the age of consent was subsequently raised to 13 upon amendments made to the 1861 act with the
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in an effort to contain the disease. The law permitted the police to arrest suspected prostitutes to be submitted for examination for venereal disease. Its
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to have unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl between the ages of 10 and 12. In addition, the 1861 Act had made the penalty for indecent assault or attempted
911:"Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 - An Act to make further provision for the Protection of Women and Girls, the suppression of brothels, and other purposes"
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c.69), or "An Act to make further provision for the Protection of Women and Girls, the suppression of brothels, and other purposes," was an Act of the
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at the time was thus in favour of stricter legislation and harsher penalties for sexual offenders, and better treatment for women and children.
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510:, and went through the procedure of preparing her for export. She was examined to prove that she was still a virgin, then she was brought to a
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The Criminal Law Amendment Act was finally passed on 14 August 1885 and in its final form effectively repealed Sections 49 and 52 of the
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It raised the age of felonious assaults to 13 and misdemeanor assault between 13 and 16 as well as imbecile women and girls.
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Sections 3(3), 7 and 8 of this Act were repealed for the Republic of Ireland by section 31 of, and the Schedule to, the
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An Act to make further provision for the Protection of Women and Girls, the suppression of brothels, and other purposes.
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It made it a criminal offence to procure girls for prostitution by administering drugs, intimidation or fraud;
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only five sexual offences against minors were reported between January 1884 and the end of July 1885,
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extended to prostitution. While it was tolerated in the middle-class, concern about the spread of
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The Act was repealed for England and Wales by section 51 of, and the fourth schedule to, the
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It criminalised "gross indecency between males" — previously the only homosexual crime was "
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The bill for the amendment of the law took four years to bring to completion. It began when
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It made it a criminal offence to abduct a girl under 18 for purposes of carnal knowledge;
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government resigned over the budget. A minority caretaker government was formed under
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Even before the SPCC's "oath clause" was passed, another clause was introduced by MP
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In addition to the recommendations made by the SPCC, on 31 July 1885 Liverpool MP
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The Maiden Tribute: A Study of the White Slave Traffic of the Nineteenth Century
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It gave magistrates the power to issue search warrants to find missing females;
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to enact legislation for the protection of young girls from transportation to
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979:"Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (original, as enacted): Section 52"
954:"Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (original, as enacted): Section 51"
929:"Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (original, as enacted): Section 50"
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The bill passed easily in the House of Lords in 1883, but was dropped in the
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It punished householders who would permit under-age sex on their premises;
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to investigate and confirmed an increase in child prostitution and
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The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 and Sexual Assault on Minors
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The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 and Sexual Assault on Minors
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Attempt to commit the last Two Offences (sections 50 & 51).
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and other forms of maltreatment. Furthermore, groups like the
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Inspector Minahan Makes a Stand: The Missing Girls of England
1055:"Theresa May committed to introducing the 'Alan Turing Law'"
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Carnally knowing a Girl between the Ages of Ten and Twelve.
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Even before the government crisis in June 1885, on 23 May,
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Hansard debates on the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 1885
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It raised the age of consent from 13 to 16 years of age;
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of the young. In addition, during the 1860s and 1870s,
250:, the latest in a 25-year series of legislation in the
1028:"Government 'committed' to Alan Turing gay pardon law"
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historical legislation that outlawed homosexual acts
594:, which remained a more serious and separate crime.
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of what, exactly, constituted "gross indecency", as
1081:"Pardon for gay men convicted under abolished laws"
543:Outraged by this defeat, Stead condemned it in the
48:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
370:Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
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1173:- a text of the law itself, including Section 11
518:The revelations caused an uproar. Copies of the
943:Carnally knowing a Girl under Ten Years of Age
680:Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997
651:of the accused to testify on his own behalf.
294:of a girl under the age of 10, and it was a
282:, the age of consent was 12 (reflecting the
321:, persuaded Parliament to pass a series of
252:United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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1103:Personal Reminiscences of a Great Crusade
396:for "immoral purposes". In response, the
108:Learn how and when to remove this message
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442:These fears apparently became real when
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428:through its increase of police powers.
1207:Prostitution law in the United Kingdom
1187:United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1885
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1053:Cowburn, Ashley (21 September 2016).
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483:from 6–10 July 1885 under the title "
231:Text of statute as originally enacted
1134:The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon
1079:Alderson, Reevel (15 October 2019).
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608:Offences against the Person Act 1875
604:Offences against the Person Act 1861
485:The Maiden Tribute of Modern Babylon
304:Offences Against the Person Act 1875
280:Offences against the Person Act 1861
256:Offences against the Person Act 1861
46:adding citations to reliable sources
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673:Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 1976
342:Society for the Suppression of Vice
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1202:Criminal law of the United Kingdom
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610:. Its provisions were as follows:
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57:"Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885"
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248:Parliament of the United Kingdom
141:Parliament of the United Kingdom
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1212:LGBTQ law in the United Kingdom
1164:Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885
384:, the anti-vice campaigner and
240:Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885
217:Criminal Law Amendment Act 1912
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1129:(Hodder & Stoughton, 1964)
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450:pending the holding of the
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323:Contagious Diseases Acts
207:Sexual Offences Act 1956
172:Territorial extent
1105:(Horace Marshall, 1896)
686:Retroactive exoneration
490:With the assistance of
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498:and former prostitute
327:unintended consequence
989:The National Archives
964:The National Archives
939:The National Archives
606:and the whole of the
1169:7 April 2023 at the
740:William Thomas Stead
577:Labouchere Amendment
472:, the editor of the
437:Sir William Harcourt
338:Social purity groups
42:improve this article
1192:1885 in British law
1108:Bridget O'Donnell,
1034:. 22 September 2016
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598:Passage and effects
376:The bill languishes
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1127:The Age of Consent
1101:Josephine Butler,
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40:Please help
35:verification
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1122:(BBC, 1974)
711:amnesty law
696:Alan Turing
557:Henry James
444:Gladstone's
366:child abuse
202:Repealed by
1181:Categories
781:References
571:Section 11
565:R.A. Cross
470:W.T. Stead
284:common law
278:Under the
274:Background
213:Relates to
149:Long title
68:newspapers
1014:The Times
1008:The Times
897:Citations
809:Returned
800:Committee
719:cautioned
551:minister
422:Whit Week
400:formed a
346:feminists
340:like the
98:June 2013
1167:Archived
1085:BBC News
1032:BBC News
852:Commons
729:See also
319:syphilis
159:Citation
917:. 1885.
663:Repeals
642:buggery
545:Gazette
512:brothel
494:of the
481:Gazette
348:led by
82:scholar
1017:half."
870:Jul 31
867:Jul 30
859:May 22
846:Aug 10
833:Apr 30
828:Apr 28
823:Apr 13
818:Mar 26
814:Lords
715:pardon
592:sodomy
508:London
288:felony
84:
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70:
63:
55:
886:Aug 7
881:Aug 7
878:Aug 6
873:Aug 3
862:Jul 9
843:Aug 7
838:May 1
791:House
309:This
181:Dates
166:c. 69
89:JSTOR
75:books
1066:2016
1040:2016
890:N/A
855:N/A
705:The
344:and
300:rape
266:and
238:The
61:news
713:to
702:".
694:of
44:by
1183::
1118:,
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987:,
981:,
962:,
956:,
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