News
The Home Office's Rape Guidance
— 2 mins read
The official guide warns that rape will affect asylum claims
The Home Office has published posters telling asylum seekers that sex without consent is rape. The materials, which also warn against cutting a girl's genitals, went on GOV.UK on 19 August 2026.
What the posters say
One official consent poster opens: 'In the UK, both people must say "yes" to sex. This is called consent.' It then warns: 'If you have sex without consent, you could go to prison. This will affect your asylum claim.'
The nine-page booklet, Understanding behaviours and expectations in the UK, and six one-page posters cover consent, the age of consent, female genital mutilation, domestic abuse, gender equality, and respect in public. One poster tells readers they must never cut or harm a girl's genitals.
The booklet warns that breaking the rules can mean trouble with the police, loss of accommodation and financial support, or damage to an asylum claim. It also states the rules apply to everyone in the UK, not only asylum seekers. The posters carry Rape Crisis helpline numbers and tell victims that asking for help will not harm their claim.
Why the government thinks new arrivals need telling
Baroness Casey's national audit of group-based child sexual exploitation was published in June 2025. The government-commissioned review found a significant proportion of live grooming cases involved suspects who were non-UK nationals or asylum seekers.
If you have sex without consent, you could go to prison. This will affect your asylum claim.
Earlier inquiries into grooming gangs in Rotherham, Rochdale, and other towns found groups of predominantly Pakistani-heritage men abusing girls over many years. Those inquiries also found police, councils, and social services failed to act, partly because staff feared being accused of racism. Once cases reached court, many of the men received long prison sentences.
What the offending data shows
Ministry of Justice figures reported by The Telegraph show 1,731 foreign national sex offenders were in prison in mid-2025. The most common nationalities included Romanian and Pakistani.
A Sky News fact check estimated Afghan nationals were around three times more likely than people born in the UK to be convicted of sexual offences.
The government says removals of foreign national offenders, including sex offenders, have risen. Ministers are also working to exclude convicted sex offenders from refugee status altogether.
