Offences against the Person Act 1875

An Act to amend the Law relating to Offences against the Person. [13th August 1875]

WHEREAS it is expedient to amend the law relating to offences against the person:

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:

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as "The Offences against the Person Act, 1875".

'''Repeal of sections 50 and 51 of 24 & 25 Vict. c. 100'''

2. Sections fifty and fifty-one of the Act of the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth years of the reign of Her Majesty, chapter one hundred, are hereby repealed, except as to anything heretofore duly done thereunder, and except so far as may be necessary for the purpose of supporting any proceeding taken or of prosecuting or punishing any person for any offence committed before the passing of this Act.

Abusing a girl under twelve years of age.

3. Whosoever shall unlawfully and carnally know and abuse any girl under the age of twelve years shall be guilty of felony, and, being convicted thereof, shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be kept in penal servitude for life or for any term not less than five years, or to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour.

Abusing a girl above twelve years of age and under thirteen years of age.

4. Whosoever shall unlawfully and carnally know and abuse any girl being above the age of twelve years and under the age of thirteen years, whether with or without her consent, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, being convicted thereof, shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour.

'''This Act to be read with 24 & 25 Vict. c.100.'''

5. This Act shall be deemed to be incorporated with the Act of the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth years of the reign of Her Majesty, chapter one hundred, and shall be construed as if the said Act (except such parts thereof as are repealed or amended by this Act) and this Act were one Act.

Extent of Act.

6. This Act shall not extend to Scotland.