Government wants tougher punishments for those who sexually abuse children

Justice minister Søren Pind calls for an increase of prison time by one year

Christian Wenande

Oct 22, 2015

The justice minister, Søren Pind, has announced he wants to increase the punishments handed out to those who sexually abuse children – by one year.

Furthermore, he has proposed that the use of video interrogation should be expanded in order to spare the children during a subsequent trial.

“The sexual abuse of a child is a terrible crime during which the trust and vulnerability of the child is abused in the most destructive way,” said Søren Pind.

“The abuses leaves deep scars in the children, and there is a great risk they will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

“I don’t think the punishments handed out today are just, and I am seeking Parliament’s support to approve a significant increase.”

READ MORE: Man accused of extensive child abuse

More video questioning
Today, the standard sentence handed out to an adult who has sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 12 is 2.5 years in prison, unless there are other aggravating circumstances. The same punishment is handed out for sex with a child under the age of 15 in which the adult uses physical or psychological power.

Only children under the age of 13 are questioned using video to spare them having to give testimony in court. Pind wants to expand that to include children under the age of 15 and also those under the age of 18 in certain situations.

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