Sexual Offences
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 – text
Some sexual offences in Britain only apply to gay men and are therefore discriminatory. The Police successfully lobbied against changing that situation. “Cottaging” was made an offence in the 2003 Act. In May 2005 it was reported that Police Forces are beginning to use Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) to regulate the use of public toilets.
There is evidence of a growing hostility to cottaging and cruising, with increased surveillance, vigilance and action being taken on complaints. There are a number of local newspapers now running stories raising awareness and hostility to these practices, and there are increased reports of violent attacks and robberies on men wandering alone at times of night which might indicate they were out looking for sex. There have also been reports of young men being robbed by people following them into toilets on railway stations.
It is also becomming common for councils and county councils to ‘improve the environment’ at gay and heterosexual cruising sites by removing brush, shrubs, cover and even installing closed circuit television cameras for increased surveillance in an attempt to enforce the law.
Society has moved on and there are plenty of places for gay people to meet each other in comfort and safety.
