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Section 12: Causing a child to watch a sexual act

Sexual Offences Act 2003 (2003 c. 42)

(1) A person aged 18 or over (A) commits an offence if—

(a) for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, he intentionally causes another person (B) to watch a third person engaging in an activity, or to look at an image of any person engaging in an activity,

(b) the activity is sexual, and

(c) either—

(i) B is under 16 and A does not reasonably believe that B is 16 or over, or

(ii) B is under 13.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.

Reproduced from legislation.gov.uk as captured on 2026-08-27. Statute is amended over time — check the source below for the version in force. This is a reference, not legal advice.
View s.12 on legislation.gov.uk

Where this section is applied on BlueLineHub

Officer reference cards that cite this provision.

Offence cards

s.11 Engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a childs.13 Child sex offences committed by children or young persons

Source: legislation.gov.uk, Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.