Harsher sentencing and mandatory prison for all child sexual abuse

Rejected 9 signatures

What the petition asks

Introduce mandatory custodial sentences for all child sexual abuse offences, including child abuse image offences, and end the use of suspended sentences. Ensure harsher punishments for all pedophile cases, prioritising child protection and victim justice over offender mitigation.

People convicted of child sexual abuse, including making, possessing, or distributing indecent images of children, are given suspended or minimal sentences. These crimes are not victimless—every image and offence represents a child being abused. Lenient sentencing fails victims, prioritises offenders over children, and undermines public confidence. Children deserve real protection, and offenders should face harsher punishments in all pedophile cases, reflecting the severity of their crimes.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

You may wish to sign the following petitions, which call for similar action:

Review punishment of Child Sex Offences
Review punishment of Child Sex Offences

Set mandatory minimum sentences for all child-related offences
Set mandatory minimum sentences for all child-related offences

Timeline

29 Jan 2026	Petition opened for signatures
18 Feb 2026	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 9

Status Rejected

Rejected 18 Feb 2026

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