Views are being sought to modernise the island’s laws on sex offences, indecent publications and pornography.

A public consultation is taking place to gather opinions for a proposed new Sexual Offences and Obscene Publications Bill, which includes pardoning historic homosexual offences.

The current sexual offence laws have not been updated since 2006.

Chief Constable Gary Roberts highlighted gaps in the provision of services to victims which this new bill aims to cover as well as gaps in protection for victims and repealing and replacing current legislation.

Issues of consent, such as forced drink, administered drugs, coercion, are covered in the consultation, with an example of the government’s questions being: ’At what age do you feel a person can consent to sex?’.

Other subjects include abuse of trust, police powers, notification orders, review of sentences available to the courts, anonymity for witnesses and complainants, and pardons for historical homosexual offences.

Consenting sexual activity between men who were 21 years of age and over was decriminalised in the island in 1993.

The government is also seeking opinions on pornography - including extreme pornography, image-based sexual abuse and the prohibition of up-skirting (which is when a person takes an image looking up someone’s skirt without their permission).

Currently upskirting is illegal in Scotland. The consultation explains that it is difficult to accurately identify the full extent of the problem in the island as it is not criminalised and therefore the police are not required to record it.

Minister for Home Affairs Bill Malarkey MHK said: ’I do hope that people can spare just a few minutes to respond to the consultation.

’We are particularly keen to hear views on the rights of victims of sexual abuse, the definition of consent, legislation regarding pornography, and the rights of witnesses and others to have their identities protected.’

Dr Alex Allinson MHK, the Home Affairs member who will be introducing the legislation, said: ’The proposed Bill will place all legislation relating to sexual offences and obscene publications into a single Act.

’This will also reflect changes that have taken place since the previous legislation was introduced. For example, there is no mention of social media but we all know what a huge part of life it is.’

He added: ’We need to make sure that all members of our community are protected against any sexual act which is non-consensual, abusive or harmful.

’It’s also imperative that any legislation is fair, making sure justice is always open to scrutiny. That’s why I would urge anyone with an interest in the proposed legislation to take advantage of this consultation process. It’s important that we have as wide a range of views as possible.’

The consultation runs until February 4.

consult.gov.im/home-affairs/sexual-offences-and-obscene-publications-bill/