Petition · past parliament
Alter the definition of rape under English law to include assault by penetration
Closed
82 signatures
What the petition asks
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 states that rape is where "[the rapist] intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person B with his penis" and "B does not consent". People who are raped using an object or fingers are said to have been 'assaulted by penetration' and not raped.
Using 'assault by penetration' to legally describe this act of rape downplays the experiences of people who have suffered in this way, and could prevent them from getting the support they need from rape shelters and therapy. It could cause additional psychological harm by preventing them from coming to terms with what happened to them, since 'assault by penetration' does not have the same stigma as the word 'rape'. So-called 'assault by penetration' can also cause PTSD, as can rape and other forms of sexual assault. The definition is also too simplistic as it does not take into account lack of consent in LGBT+ interactions and relationships, and implies that only men can rape.
Timeline
| 19 Sep 2017 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 19 Mar 2018 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
82
Status
Closed
Opened
19 Sep 2017
Closed
19 Mar 2018
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.