# Crime and Policing Act 2026, Paragraph 12: Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17)

Extent: E+W
Status: prospective

(1) The Sentencing Code is amended as follows.
(2) In Part 1 of Schedule 14 (extended sentences: the earlier offence condition: offences), in the table in paragraph 9, after the entry for section 8 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 insert—
“
(ga) Section 8A (rape of a child under 16)
(gb) Section 8B (assault of a child under 16 by penetration)
(gc) Section 8C (causing or inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration)
”.
(3) In Part 1 of Schedule 15 (life sentence for second offence: listed offences), in paragraph 9, after the entry for section 8 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 insert—
“
(ga) section 8A (rape of a child under 16)
The date on which section 8A comes into force
(gb) section 8B (assault of a child under 16 by penetration)
The date on which section 8B comes into force
(gc) section 8C (causing or inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration)
The date on which section 8C comes into force
”
(4) In Part 2 of Schedule 18 (specified sexual offences for purposes of section 306), in paragraph 38 after paragraph (h) insert—
“(ha) section 8A (rape of a child under 16);
(hb) section 8B (assault of a child under 16 by penetration);
(hc) section 8C (causing or inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration);”.
(5) In Schedule 19 (specified offences carrying maximum sentence of imprisonment for life), in the table in paragraph 20, after the entry for section 8 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 insert—
“
(fa) Section 8A (rape of a child under 16)
(fb) Section 8B (assault of a child under 16 by penetration)
(fc) Section 8C (causing or inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity involving penetration)
”.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/20/schedule/11/paragraph/12 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/crime-and-policing-act-2026/schedule-11/paragraph-12
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.