FAQs about historical sexual accusations answered ABV Solicitors Over the last five years in the UK, there has been a rise in the reports of what are known as historical sexual offences. And while many people are familiar with celebrity cases, there have been many jumps in reports from everyday citizens too. However, if you are on the receiving end of an accusation relating to a historical sexual offence, then you need to consider the seriousness of this and seek out the advice of a sexual offence solicitor as soon as possible. In this article, a sexual offence solicitor will answer 5 common questions about historical sexual accusations, so you can get a better idea of what may be involved in dealing with this in your own life. What is a historical sexual offence? A historical sexual offence is any kind of sex crime that took place at a previous point in time; this could have happened many decades ago or in the more recent past, such as the last 18 months. This offence encompasses all manner of sexual offences, such as rape, sexual contact or indecent images. If you are accused of a historical sexual offence, your first step should be to contact a sexual offence solicitor to start building your case. How are historical offences investigated? As you can imagine, it is often harder to investigate historical sexual offences, so the police and other agencies will corroborate a complainant's account and look for evidence; they may even look for records from schools or hospitals. Any sexual offence solicitor defending you will perform a similar role, looking for any evidence that you did not actually perform the act you are accused of. Are the penalties different for historical offences? Yes, they are. If you were accused of rape in 2022, the penalties would be different from a rape accusation from the 1970s. Historical sexual offences are punished with the laws that existed at the time of the offence. If you have been accused of multiple sexual offences across many decades, then your sexual offence solicitor will aim to ensure that each one is tried and potentially punished within the law that was present when it was said to have occurred. What should I do if I’m accused of a historical offence? The first thing to do is remain calm and refrain from reaching out to the person putting forward the accusation, as this can worsen the situation. Instead, you should contact a sexual offence solicitor who can begin working with you to build your defence. Try not to become embarrassed while working with these professionals, as they have heard it all before and should act in a manner that allows you to feel that you are not being judged. Will I be put on the sex offender register? If you are found guilty of the sexual offence you are accused of, then you may be placed on the sex offender register, depending on the severity of the crime. However, this is one of the things that a sexual offence solicitor will aim to overturn or prevent, as this can have lifelong consequences. SOURCES: https://www.abvsolicitors.co.uk/services/sexual-offence-solicitor/ https://www.ons.gov.uk/aboutus/transparencyandgovernance/freedomofinformationfoi/historicalst atisticsforsexualoffences https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/droppable/item/approach-to-sentencing-historic-sexual- offences/