Petition · Home Office
Change Sexual Offences Act rape definition to include any assault by penetration
Closed
220 signatures
What the petition asks
I want the government to change the Sexual Offences Act legislation to redefine all penetrative assault as rape and the offenders should be prosecuted as such. We think labelling it as penetrative assault undermines the victim’s reality of the harm and impacts caused.
Entering any part of someone's body with any part of your body or an item without consent should be charged as rape. It shouldn’t matter what part of the body is used to determine rape. We believe any part of the body entering someone else without consent is rape.
Timeline
| 13 Nov 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 13 May 2026 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
220
Status
Closed
Department
Home Office
Opened
13 Nov 2025
Closed
13 May 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 8 Aug 2026.