It replaces other sexual offences laws with more specific ones, with more specific and explicit wording. It creates several new offences, such as voyeurism, zoophilia and necrophilia.
The Act has faced criticism because it outlaws consensual "sexual hugging" in public places or by underage persons, even when both participants are underage. The law is unique since neither the Home Office or the Police have any intention of policing such nor prosecuting them except in extreme circumstances. This does not change much: underage sex by teenagers never has been actively pursued by either the Police nor the Crown Prosecution Service.
For some more information see the article on rape.
External links
The Act (http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/20030042.htm)
BBC Article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3672591.stm)
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