The Home Office has announced that more people will be eligible for a pardon over historical criminal convictions relating to homosexual activity.
Anyone convicted or cautioned for consensual same-sex activity under now-abolished laws will be able to apply to have them “disregarded”.
The amendment to the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill will broaden the criteria to include any repealed or abolished civilian or military offence that was imposed on someone purely for, or due to, consensual same-sex sexual activity.
All those whose cautions and convictions are disregarded under the scheme will also receive an automatic pardon, and anyone who has died before the changes came into place – or up to 12 months afterwards – will be posthumously pardoned.
Patel said: “It is only right that where offences have been abolished, convictions for consensual activity between same-sex partners should be disregarded too.
“I hope that expanding the pardons and disregards scheme will go some way to righting the wrongs of the past and to reassuring members of the LGBT community that Britain is one of the safest places in the world to call home.”
