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<p>Sexual offences perpetrated against children are horrific crimes and the impact
of these can have a lasting impact on victims and their families.</p><p> </p><p>Sentencing
decisions are taken by our independent courts. They will take such decisions based
on the full circumstances of the offence and offender, and consider the relevant sentencing
guidelines. The independent Sentencing Council has produced definitive guidelines
on sexual offences.</p><p> </p><p>There are a range of offences someone can be convicted
of if they abuse a child. Life imprisonment is available for the most serious offences,
such as the rape of a child under the age of 13. For certain child sexual abuse offences,
extended determinate sentences can be imposed for the purposes of public protection.
There are no plans to increase maximum penalties available for child sexual abuse
offences.</p><p> </p><p>Average custodial sentences for sexual offences overall are
increasing, and have gone up from 43 months in 2007 to just under 60 months in 2017.
The number of prisoners serving a custodial sentence for a sexual offence has nearly
trebled, from 4,795 (in June 1998) to 13,580 (in 2018).</p>
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