Article 22C Communicating with a group with a view to grooming a particular childF1
A person aged 18 or over (A) commits an offence if—
(a)
A communicates with a group of persons,
(b)
at the time of the communication, A intentionally presents himself or herself to the group or to the public at large as being under 18,
(c)
A’s intention in communicating with the group is to establish or participate in an exchange of communications with a particular person whom A has in mind (B) with a view to subsequently committing a relevant offence against B, and
(d)
B is under 16 and A does not reasonably believe that B is 16 or over.
Annotations
Textual amendments
- F1
Arts. 22B-22G inserted (27.11.2023) by Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 19), ss. 4(1), 30(2); S.R. 2023/188, art. 3(a)