NCTJ Court Reporting Practice Exam

In what year was the Sex Offences Act passed?

1. 1985

2. 1992

3. 2000

4. 2005

The correct answer is: 1992

The Sex Offences Act was indeed passed in 2003, which is sometimes confused with the dates of the Act's subsequent amendments or related legislation. The law introduced sweeping reforms to sexual offenses defined in criminal law, including the definition and penalties associated with different sexual crimes. While many people may cite various years due to related legislative changes, the specific foundational act that significantly redefined sexual offenses originates from that time. Because the answer option given is from 1992, which is the year not associated with the actual enactment of the Sex Offences Act, it’s important to clarify that some other sexual offense laws and provisions were discussed and amended in subsequent years but were not encapsulated in this particular act. Overall, familiarity with the key dates and specifics of sexual offenses legislation is crucial for court reporting and for understanding legal proceedings associated with such cases.