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Repealing Back the Years United Kingdom: Past convictions for “homosexual activity” to be wiped from records. BY STEVE PAFFORD
B
oris Johnson’s UK government has announced it is determined to “right the wrongs of the past” as a long-delayed disregards and pardons scheme is set to be expanded, and would remove all past convictions for consensual homosexual activity between adults. The Home Office at Westminster in London has stated that any historical conviction that was imposed in Britain purely due to consensual same-sex activity under thankfully now-abolished laws will be included in an attempt at
“righting the wrongs of the past”, the Home Secretary has said. Anyone convicted of a crime under laws that were only repealed under Tony Blair’s Labor government of two decades ago. Anyone that falls under the remit can appeal to have it removed from their criminal record. Those who have convictions to their names and have passed away or those who may pass away for up to 12 months after the scheme is introduced will get a posthumous pardon. The Home Secretary, Priti Patel of the Conservative Party, said in an official statement that “It is only right that where offenses have been
STEVE PAFFORD is an English journalist, actor and author of the acclaimed book BowieStyle. Having trained from the floor up in UK music titles Q, MOJO and Record Collector, he’s had his work featured in a wide variety of British, American and Australian media including the BBC, CNN, The Independent and the New York Times. Steve divides his time between Australia and the south of France.
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