Image copyright Science Photo Library Image caption Alan Turing was pardoned in 2013, decades after his conviction for gross indecency

Thousands of gay and bisexual men found guilty of decades-old sexual offences in England and Wales have been posthumously pardoned. The new law has been dubbed the “Alan Turing Law” after Britain’s famous Enigma code-breaker responsible for decrypting Nazi messages during World War II who was granted a posthumous royal pardon in 2013 – 61 years after he was charged at a Manchester police station over homosexual activity. WATCH WHAT ELSE IS IN THE NEWS

The pardons were first announced last year as an amendment to the Policing and Crime Bill and were officially enforced as the Bill received Royal Assent on Tuesday. We can never undo the hurt caused, but we have apologised and taken action to right these wrongs.”

“I am immensely proud that ‘Turing’s Law’ has become a reality under this government.”

Turing’s Law takes its name from British World War Two code-breaker Alan Turing, who took his own life in 1954, less than two years after being convicted of gross indecency and undergoing effective chemical castration. I am immensely proud that ‘Turing’s law’ has become a reality under this government.”

There is already a procedure in place for the living to apply to the Home Office to have their past convictions, relating to same-sex relationships, expunged from their criminal records. Announcing the new law, the Ministry of Justice said the pardons apply automatically to deceased men who were convicted for consensual same-sex relations before homosexuality was decriminalized several decades ago.
The United Kingdom posthumously pardons around 49,000 gay and bisexual men found guilty of decades-old sodomy laws in England and Wales. Those still living can apply for a statutory pardon.