More people set to be pardoned for historical crimes linked to homosexuality
news.sky.comRead more:Posthumous pardons for gay men over now-abolished sexual offencesPardons scheme extended to all convictions for consensual gay sex under now-abolished lawsBe the first to get Breaking NewsInstall the Sky News app for freeSince 2012, men have been able to apply to have their convictions or cautions for consensual sex with other men disregarded.Last year, further changes were announced to widen the range of civilian and service offences under the scheme, as well as to allow women to apply.Offences included are those in which the other party was 16 or over and the activity is not a crime today.It is an expansion of the government's disregards and pardons Scheme, which saw computer pioneer Alan Turing among the first to be pardoned.Fighting With Pride's executive chair Craig Jones and and chief executive Caroline Paige said in a joint statement: "This extension to the disregards and pardons scheme and its inclusion of female veterans is welcome and another small step in the right direction."We will continue to work very closely with the Ministry of Defence and other government departments to ensure the vulnerable veterans in this cohort get all the support available to them."Deputy chief executive of the LGBT Foundation Rob Cookson said: "People should never be criminalised simply for who they are and who they love."The criminalisation of gay men made a huge, terrible impact on many people in our community."It is only right that the disregards and pardons scheme has been widened."Anyone wishing to apply can do so by filling in a form on gov.uk..
