Sex crime

Other names for sex crimes include: owned, molest, creeper, gang bang, curb crawling, paedo, pervert, inbred, sicko, whore, slut, hooker, pimp, brothel, harlot, streetwalker and jeezie.

Can you think of any more?

Sex crimes are types of sexual activity that are also crimes. There are lots of different types of sex crimes and quite a bit of misunderstanding. 

We’ve explained the different types of sex crimes on this page. They’re all very serious as the effects on the victims can be long lasting and traumatic.

Paedophilia is when an adult has or wants to have sex with children who haven’t reached puberty, e.g. watching films of children having sex on the internet or touching children in a sexual way. 

It’s illegal for adults to have sex with children or even to try to have sex with them. It’s also a crime to take photos or record sex with children. 

Children who are sexually abused can be affected for the rest of their lives. This means paedophilia is a really serious crime and the punishment can be life in prison. 

Incest is when you have sex with a close member of your family, e.g. brother, sister, parent or grandparent. 

If you commit incest, you could face up to 14 years in prison. If it involves an adult and a child, it’s even more serious and can count as paedophilia. If you are/were the victim or abused, you won't be in any trouble. 

Prostitution is when you buy or sell sex for money or something else like drugs. You don’t have to buy or sell sex to be guilty of prostitution, e.g. hanging about on street corners trying to sell sex still counts. 

Prostitutes are often forced to have sex by their bosses or ‘pimps’ who might also supply them with drugs. Prostitution is closely linked to other types of crime, including drugs, human trafficking, paedophilia and violence. 

Buying or selling sex isn’t illegal but trying to is, e.g. advertising it or driving around looking for it. If you’re involved in prostitution, you could get up to 7 years in prison. 

If you have information about sex crime, be fearless and let us know anonymously.

Rape is when you have sex with someone who hasn’t agreed to it. 

Just because someone is your boyfriend, for example, it doesn’t mean they can’t rape you. Being drunk or asleep is no excuse and the law applies to every male over the age of 10.

If you rape someone, the average sentence you could expect to get is 7 and a half years in prison but the maximum is life. 

Statutory rape is when you’re over 16 but the person who’s agreed to have sex with you is under 16. If it’s a girl and she’s under 13 then it’s even more serious. The maximum sentence for statutory rape is also life in prison.

Date rape is when you know the person who rapes you. It is sometimes known as 'acquaintance rape' and you might have just met the person or know them very well. Even if you've consented to sex with them in the past, it doesn't mean they have a right to have sex with you again against your will.

Sometimes the person might trick you into taking a drug to make it easier to have sex with you. You don’t have to be on a date for it to be date rape and some drugs mean you can’t remember what happened. 

It’s the most common type of rape and is just as serious as rape meaning the rapist can get life in prison. 

Gang rape or ‘gang banging’ is when a group of people rape one person. The victim of the rape is often younger than the group is often drugged or drunk so they can’t resist as much. 

This type of rape is sometimes linked to gang initiation ceremonies where groups of potential gang members have to rape someone to be allowed into the gang. 

Gang rape is just as serious as other types of rape and can be more serious when it’s violent too. If you’re found guilty of gang rape you could get a life sentence in prison. 

If you have information about rape, be fearless and let us know anonymously.

Some criminal gangs are involved with sex crimes. These quotes are taken from an article from the newspaper the Independent. The article is about a very brave young victim coming forward to talk about her experience after being raped by a male gang from London.

"Everything I used to do, like going shopping and ice skating, I can't do that now because of all the crowds. I've got a fear of crowds and gangs of people. Everything has changed. I had to leave all my friends behind and school."

"When they're all in a gang, they do act a lot different because if you knew some of them individually, they seem so different and nice - until you see them in a gang and you think that's not how they really are."

For the full article please visit the Independents website.

If you have any infomation about gangs and sex crimes, be fearless and let us know anonymously.

If you have any information about criminal gangs, be fearless and let us know anonymously.