This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37711518
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gay men convicted of now-abolished sex offences to be pardoned | Gay men convicted of now-abolished sex offences to be pardoned |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted of now-abolished sexual offences are to receive posthumous pardons, the government has announced. | Thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted of now-abolished sexual offences are to receive posthumous pardons, the government has announced. |
| It will mean formal pardons for those convicted over consensual same-sex relationships before homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK. | It will mean formal pardons for those convicted over consensual same-sex relationships before homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK. |
| Justice Minister Sam Gyimah said the move was "hugely important". | Justice Minister Sam Gyimah said the move was "hugely important". |
| It honours a government commitment made after World War Two code-breaker Alan Turing was pardoned in 2013. | It honours a government commitment made after World War Two code-breaker Alan Turing was pardoned in 2013. |
| Under the move - dubbed "Turing law" - deceased people who were convicted of sexual acts that are no longer deemed criminal will receive an automatic pardon. | Under the move - dubbed "Turing law" - deceased people who were convicted of sexual acts that are no longer deemed criminal will receive an automatic pardon. |
| 'Innocent today' | |
| Anyone living who has been convicted of such offences can already apply through the Home Office to have their names cleared through a "disregard process", which can remove any mention of an offence from criminal record checks. | Anyone living who has been convicted of such offences can already apply through the Home Office to have their names cleared through a "disregard process", which can remove any mention of an offence from criminal record checks. |
| However, those still alive will also receive a new, automatic statutory pardon - once their offences have been successfully deleted through the disregard process. | However, those still alive will also receive a new, automatic statutory pardon - once their offences have been successfully deleted through the disregard process. |
| Mr Gyimah said it was "hugely important that we pardon people convicted of historical sexual offences who would be innocent of any crime today". | Mr Gyimah said it was "hugely important that we pardon people convicted of historical sexual offences who would be innocent of any crime today". |
| The Sexual Offences Act decriminalised private homosexual acts between men aged over 21 in England and Wales, in 1967. | The Sexual Offences Act decriminalised private homosexual acts between men aged over 21 in England and Wales, in 1967. |
| The law was not changed in Scotland until 1980, or in Northern Ireland until 1982. | The law was not changed in Scotland until 1980, or in Northern Ireland until 1982. |
| Calls for wider pardons strengthened after Turing was given a posthumous royal pardon in 2013. | Calls for wider pardons strengthened after Turing was given a posthumous royal pardon in 2013. |
| The Bletchley Park code-breaker was convicted in 1952 of gross indecency with a 19-year-old man. | The Bletchley Park code-breaker was convicted in 1952 of gross indecency with a 19-year-old man. |
| Cyanide poisoning | Cyanide poisoning |
| He was later chemically castrated and died in 1954 after poisoning himself with cyanide. | He was later chemically castrated and died in 1954 after poisoning himself with cyanide. |
| His pardon, nearly 60 years later, followed a Private Member's Bill introduced by Lord Sharkey. | His pardon, nearly 60 years later, followed a Private Member's Bill introduced by Lord Sharkey. |
| The Lib Dem peer said the latest government announcement was "a momentous day for thousands of families up and down the UK". | The Lib Dem peer said the latest government announcement was "a momentous day for thousands of families up and down the UK". |
| He said: "It is a wonderful thing that we have been able to build on the pardon granted to Alan Turing during the coalition." | He said: "It is a wonderful thing that we have been able to build on the pardon granted to Alan Turing during the coalition." |
| 'I will not accept a pardon' | 'I will not accept a pardon' |
| George Montague was convicted in 1974 of gross indecency with a man. He says he wants an apology - not a pardon. | George Montague was convicted in 1974 of gross indecency with a man. He says he wants an apology - not a pardon. |
| "To accept a pardon means you accept that you were guilty. I was not guilty of anything. I was only guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time," he told BBC Newsnight. | "To accept a pardon means you accept that you were guilty. I was not guilty of anything. I was only guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time," he told BBC Newsnight. |
| "I think it was wrong to give Alan Turing - one of the heroes of my life - a pardon. | "I think it was wrong to give Alan Turing - one of the heroes of my life - a pardon. |
| "What was he guilty of? He was guilty of the same as what they called me guilty of - being born only able to fall in love with another man." | "What was he guilty of? He was guilty of the same as what they called me guilty of - being born only able to fall in love with another man." |
| He added: "If I get an apology, I will not need a pardon." | He added: "If I get an apology, I will not need a pardon." |
| He added that there "never should have been an offence of gross indecency". | He added that there "never should have been an offence of gross indecency". |
| "It didn't apply to heterosexuals. Heterosexuals could do what they liked, in the doorways, in passageways, the back of their car. | "It didn't apply to heterosexuals. Heterosexuals could do what they liked, in the doorways, in passageways, the back of their car. |
| "It only applied to gay men. That's not right, surely?" | |
| Private Member's Bill | Private Member's Bill |
| The government has said it will not be supporting a separate Private Member's Bill on the subject - introduced by SNP MP John Nicolson - which is set to be debated on Friday. | The government has said it will not be supporting a separate Private Member's Bill on the subject - introduced by SNP MP John Nicolson - which is set to be debated on Friday. |
| Mr Nicolson, the MP for East Dunbartonshire, has proposed a blanket pardon for those still living, without the need to go through the disregard process. | Mr Nicolson, the MP for East Dunbartonshire, has proposed a blanket pardon for those still living, without the need to go through the disregard process. |
| Mr Gyimah said such a move - without detailed investigations by the Home Office - could see people guilty of offences claiming pardons for acts that are still illegal. | Mr Gyimah said such a move - without detailed investigations by the Home Office - could see people guilty of offences claiming pardons for acts that are still illegal. |
| 'Extraordinary distress' | 'Extraordinary distress' |
| "This would cause an extraordinary and unnecessary amount of distress to victims," he added. | "This would cause an extraordinary and unnecessary amount of distress to victims," he added. |
| Paul Twocock, from the charity Stonewall, which campaigns for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, welcomed the announcement but said it supported Mr Nicolson's Private Member's Bill. | Paul Twocock, from the charity Stonewall, which campaigns for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, welcomed the announcement but said it supported Mr Nicolson's Private Member's Bill. |
| Mr Twocock said the bill "explicitly" excluded pardoning anyone convicted of offences that would still be illegal today, including non-consensual sex and sex with someone under 16. | Mr Twocock said the bill "explicitly" excluded pardoning anyone convicted of offences that would still be illegal today, including non-consensual sex and sex with someone under 16. |
| Were you, or do you know someone who was, convicted over a consensual same-sex relationship? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Were you, or do you know someone who was, convicted over a consensual same-sex relationship? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |