| Short Title: | Attempted Rape Act 1948 |
| Type: | Act |
| Parliament: | Parliament of the United Kingdom |
| Long Title: | An Act to authorise the passing of sentences of penal servitude for attempts to commit rape. |
| Year: | 1948 |
| Statute Book Chapter: | 11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 19 |
| Territorial Extent: | England and Wales |
| Royal Assent: | 24 March 1948 |
| Commencement: | 24 March 1948 |
| Repeal Date: | 1 January 1957[1] |
| Repealing Legislation: | Sexual Offences Act 1956 |
| Status: | Repealed |
The Attempted Rape Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo. 6. c. 19) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that increased the maximum sentence for attempted rape from two years' imprisonment to seven years' penal servitude. (Penal servitude was abolished later that year by the Criminal Justice Act 1948, and replaced with imprisonment.[2]) The Attempted Rape Act was repealed and replaced by the Sexual Offences Act 1956,[3] which maintained the maximum sentence of seven years' imprisonment[4] until the 1956 Act was amended by the Sexual Offences Act 1985, which increased the maximum sentence to life imprisonment.[5]