Sexual Relationships: Deception, Consent and Protecting Autonomy 

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The legal and philosophical ambit of consent has continued to be problematic as evidenced by the recent cases of R v Gayle Newland, AJA & Ors v Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis and R v Mason. These cases highlight the tension between determining the boundaries of acceptability in sexual relationships and protecting autonomy. 

 

The case of AJA & Ors revealed the activities of undercover officers who were sent to infiltrate political groups. The spies had deceived women into forming intimate relationships. Because of these revelations, in 2015, the then Home Secretary announced her intention to establish an Inquiry into undercover policing. The Inquiry’s investigations will include a review of the extent of the duty to make, during a criminal prosecution, disclosure of an undercover police operation and the scope for miscarriage of justice in the absence of proper disclosure. 

 

Although the above cases dealt primarily with deception and consent, authors are invited to submit papers on the following themes:

• Autonomy 

• Consent

• Deception 

• Lying 

• Undercover policing 

 

This topic aims to explore these themes through legal, philosophical and criminological perspectives. 

 

Convenor 

Omar Madhloom (omar.madhloom@bristol.ac.uk)