Shoppers, campaigners and local MPs are watching closely as the government advances the draft Conversion Practices Bill , a long-awaited move to criminalise abusive attempts to change sexual orientation or gender identity, promising new protection orders and clearer enforcement for people across Brighton and beyond.

Essential Takeaways

  • What it does: The draft bill would create two criminal offences targeting abusive conversion practices that cause serious harm, or that are encouraged or assisted abroad.
  • Practical penalty: Convictions could mean an unlimited fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
  • New protection tool: Conversion Practice Protection Orders would allow intervention before harm occurs, similar to orders for forced marriage or FGM.
  • Trans‑inclusive framing: The bill is explicitly trans‑inclusive, aiming to cover attempts to change gender identity as well as sexual orientation.
  • Why it matters locally: Brighton Kemptown MP Chris Ward welcomed the bill as “long overdue”, saying it will protect LGBTQ+ people in his constituency from coercion.

Why MPs say this bill is overdue and what that feels like locally

Brighton Kemptown’s MP, Chris Ward, described the draft bill as a major advance and long overdue, reflecting a wider sense that current protections leave survivors exposed. According to the government, existing laws on coercive control, assault and communications offences don’t capture the specific dynamics of conversion abuse, which can be subtle, sustained and emotionally devastating. For Brighton , a city with a visible and active LGBTQ+ community , the bill’s introduction feels like a public acknowledgement of that harm, and a practical step towards safety.

What the draft law actually creates and how it works

The draft bill sets out two new offences: one for carrying out abusive conversion practices that cause serious harm, alarm or distress, and another for encouraging or assisting such practices carried out outside England and Wales. It also proposes Conversion Practice Protection Orders to stop harm before it escalates, modelled on existing orders used against forced marriage or female genital mutilation. The government’s explanatory notes and draft text outline scope, intent and potential penalties, and make clear the bill is meant to be enforceable in real-world situations.

Gaps in current law , why something new was needed

Campaigners and legal advisers have pointed out that crimes like coercive control or harassment often fail to fit the unique pattern of conversion practices. The Commons Library and Lords Library briefings explain that without a legal definition or a tailored offence, police and prosecutors have struggled to bring cases. Introducing a specific offence makes the behaviour easier to identify and prosecute, and gives courts clearer language to use when protecting victims. That shift should help survivors feel believed and make enforcement less patchy.

How protection orders could change prevention and policing

Conversion Practice Protection Orders aim to be preventative rather than purely reactive. Like orders used against forced marriage, they would let authorities intervene when someone is at risk, potentially stopping conversion attempts before serious harm occurs. For local services in Brighton and elsewhere, that means new tools for safeguarding: social services, schools and health providers could have clearer legal backing to act. It also signals a cultural move , recognising coercive conversion work as a form of abuse that merits early intervention.

Practical questions residents and professionals are asking

People naturally want to know: who exactly will be protected, how will “abusive” be defined, and how will rights to religious belief be balanced? The draft bill is explicit that it is trans‑inclusive and focuses on conduct intended to change, suppress or prevent a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity through abuse. The explanatory materials spell out exclusions and safeguards, and the government says it has tried to balance freedom of religion and expression with protecting people from harm. Local charities and legal advisers will play a key role helping residents understand how the law applies in everyday situations.

It's a small but significant step that could make a big difference to people who have lived with the fear of coercion.

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