Offences Against the Person Act 1875


The Offences against the Person Act 1875 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Its purpose was to extend the scope of sexual offences against children.

Section 2

This section repealed sections 50 and 51 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 with savings.

Section 3 - Abusing a girl under 12

This section replaced section 50 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861.
When the Act was repealed, it was in turn replaced by section 4 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885.

Section 4 - Abusing a girl between 12 and 13

This section replaced section 51 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861.
When the Act was repealed, it was turn replaced by section 5 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885.

Section 5

This section provided that the Act was to be construed as though it and the Offences against the Person Act 1861 were one Act. Its effect was that the definition of carnal knowledge provided by section 63 of that Act applied to the offences created by sections 3 and 4 of this Act.

Section 6 - Extent

This section provided that the Act did not extend to Scotland.