UK Parliament home

Open Classify all sexual offences as violent crimes and end automatic appeal rights

Created by Alice Alcock
Closes on

We want the Government formally to reclassify all sexual offences as "Violent Crimes" in legislation to ensure sentencing and rehabilitation reflect the violence of these acts, also amending the Magistrates’ Courts Act '80 to remove the automatic right of a defendant to an appeal in the Crown Court

Current law separates sex offences from violent crimes, which we believe downplays trauma and may contribute to poor rehab and high reoffending. Furthermore, the automatic right to appeal from Magistrates’ Courts can allow offenders a "practice run" forcing victims into a "Double Trial Trap" with years of delays. Loopholes can be gamed to ignore court deadlines, leaving victims in procedural limbo. We demand a system that prioritises victim recovery over offender convenience & treats sex offences as violent acts.

Sign this petition

100 signatures

Show on a map

10,000

Petition progress

View all updates for this petition, with the most recent first.

  • Petition published

    This petition can now be signed.

    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 20 August 2026.