Fridae

The Queen on Wednesday announced a hugely controversial package of nineteen Government Bills during her twenty-minute speech including one that would "modernise the laws on sexual offences and to strengthen the framework of penalties for sex offenders to protect the public", reported The (UK) Guardian.

Although it has yet to be confirmed, it is expected that the Government will repeal its Victorian Sex laws - under which many gay men have been prosecuted - in a dramatic change in legislation to reflect the 20the century.

A government paper published in 2000 said the offences of buggery, gross indecency and soliciting by men - the so-called "cottaging laws'' - should be repealed.

The law "should not treat people differently on the basis of their sexual orientation'', it said, but a new public order offence should be created to deal with inappropriate sexual behaviour in public places, such as public toilets".

"Consensual sexual activity between adults in private that causes no harm to themselves or others should not be criminal,'' it added.

However, a new public order offence would be created to deal with inappropriate sexual behaviour in public places, such as public toilets. Such instances would then be prosecuted under a general public order offence and not a specific anti-gay law.

A White Paper outlining the government's plans is to be printed next week.

The reform will also aim to provide better protection against sexual abuse, particularly for children and vulnerable adults; an overhaul on the law on rape, partly to tackle the attrition rate which sees only 9% of complaints to the police end in a conviction and deal with modern crimes like Internet paedophilia.