Offence of 'sexual grooming' to bring seven years' jail

Paedophiles who groom children for sexual activity will face up to seven years' jail, Justice Minister Phil Goff said today.

A new offence of sexual grooming would be added to the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2) when Parliament debated details of the bill in the next couple of weeks, he said.

This would cover situations including where a person contacted or arranged to meet a child with the intention of having sexual activity, whether or not abuse occurred.

People charged with sexual grooming would have a defence if they could prove they took reasonable steps to determine the age of the young person and that they believed on reasonable grounds that the young person was over 16, Mr Goff said.

The internet and cellphones had made it easier for sex offenders to groom intended victims.

Mr Goff said United Future MP Marc Alexander had raised the issue of sexual grooming with him.

The Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2) closes a loophole that allowed women to escape punishment for committing sex offences against children.

"It is currently illegal for a man to engage in sexual activity with a young person under 16 and this bill broadens that offence to cover women," Mr Goff said in a statement.

The bill increased the maximum penalty for sexual connection with a young person between 12 and 16 years from seven years' jail to 10 years' jail. The time limit for prosecuting such offences was being removed, Mr Goff said.

- NZPA