Thousands of gay men posthumously pardoned after 'Turing's Law' takes effect

Thousands of gay and bisexual men convicted of now-abolished sexual offences have been posthumously pardoned, Justice Minister Sam Gyimah has announced.

The move comes after the so-called "Turing's Law" took effect, although the pardons were first announced last year.

It follows the pardoning of Alan Turing, the World War Two code-breaker, in 2013.

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has hailed the pardons and said: "This is a real milestone. This pardon is wiping the slate clean".

Justice Minister Sam Gyimah termed it a "truly momentous day".

"We can never undo the hurt caused, but we have apologised and taken action to right these wrongs," he said.

"I am immensely proud that Turing's Law has become a reality under this government."

The Policing and Crime Bill, which has now received royal assent, enshrines in law pardons for those convicted of consensual same-sex relationships before laws were changed.

The act also sees statutory pardons granted to the living.

However, this will only apply in cases where individuals have successfully applied through the Home Office's disregard process to have historic offences removed.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "The living can get pardoned under the legislation, but they have to go through a process so that people who were convicted of offences that are still a crime today do not get pardoned".