Changed Laws For Sex Offenders Urged (Press, 26 May 1956)

On 25 May 1956, the Church of England Moral Welfare Council released a significant report advocating for changes in laws surrounding homosexuality and prostitution. The 120-page booklet titled “Sexual Offenders and Social Punishment,” compiled by Dr. Derrick Sherwin Bailey, urges for the repeal of existing legislation that criminalises private homosexual activities among consenting adult males. It proposes instead to create laws that would penalise homosexual acts involving minors, acts constituting public nuisance, or those involving assault, violence, fraud, or coercion, while also recommending an increase in the age of consent from 16 to 17. In his introduction, Dr. Bailey highlighted that harsher punishments would not serve justice and pointed to the widespread devaluation and commercialisation of sex as a major barrier to educating the public on sexual matters. The report notes a discrepancy in the treatment of male and female homosexuals under the law, highlighting that while males are heavily penalised, women often face little to no repercussions for soliciting. It criticises current practices that allow police to charge women without evidence from male complainants, leading to a process described as "perfunctory to a farcical degree." The report's publication coincides with similar discussions within the Church of Scotland, which released a report surveying the sexual attitudes of young Scots. Among a group of 392 participants, it was found that one in four believed there was nothing wrong with sexual relations between engaged couples. This report, set to be reviewed by the church's general assembly, raised questions regarding the influence of media portrayals of female attractiveness on sexual behaviour. The Church of Scotland's commission gathered responses from 238 young men and 154 young women, revealing that a significant majority perceived premarital and extramarital sexual relationships as common, with 68 percent of men and 55 percent of women affirming this view. The coordinated timing of these reports indicates a growing discourse on sexual morality and legislation in Britain during this period, reflecting changing societal attitudes towards homosexuality and sexual relationships overall.

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