Should Be Lower The Age Of Consent To 15 ?

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24976929

I can't really make my mind up on this one. If 10,000's of 15 years olds are having sex and we can't seem to stop them, perhaps it shouldn't be a crime. But what of the 14 years olds ? Will there be a campaign in another few years to make that the age of consent ?

[giveup]

No.

[jd_1984]

Growing up my friends who were 16 and 17 had girlfriends of 15 and it was just normal. We didnt regard it as wrong, the girls in many ways were more mature. It was only like dating a girl 1 school year below.

[shoota]

http://advisor.d6cn.com/Travel/tttdmq/Ages_of_sexual_consent_in_Europe.html

[jd_1984]

13 though, it is a child. I really didnt think Spain was low.

[shoota]

Statutory rape is just an Americanism for a sexual offence defined by statute which we have plenty of (eg sex with a minor).

[shoota]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10089339/Spain-to-raise-age-of-consent-from-13-to-16.html

[tiggerblue10]

No.

[shoota]

Lol - Age of consent for the Vatican city?

That'll be 12 then.....

Seriously.

[hc4361]

Mikey, anyone engaging in sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 13 will automatically be committing rape - there is no defence. That is as good as 'statutory rape' in my opinion - it is by statute law.

[pixie373]

Why not- for all those saying no?
The average age of sexual maturity is the youngest it's ever been. The age of consent is the oldest it's ever been. What happens with all those teenagers in between? Adults have sex with people they shouldn't. I'm not sure that we can expect young teenagers to behave in a more responsible way than adults. I don't think the age of consent stops them. It just means they keep it quieter and struggle with advice or contraception. Makes no sense to me.

[ichkeria]

I agree with you pixie

[sp1814]

I don't think it should be lowered, but thinking about it raises a couple of questions in my head.

If the age of consent is 16 and two fifteen year olds have sex, have they both committed a crime?

And if an 18 year old British person has sex with a 15 year old British person whilst on holiday in Spain (where the age of consent is lower) has an offence been committed?

[hc4361]

Yes to two under 16 year olds in the UK

No to the 18 year old Brit in Spain

[weecalf]

People making these decisions would be 30.40 50 60 70 .So should it not be those who its going to effect making the decisions on changing the laws .

[sp1814]

Also, I think that this needs to be judged on a case by case basis.

Whilst I think the law shouldn't be altered, if a 16 year old has sex with a 15 year old, I wouldn't necessarily say that the 16 year old should be charged. I know it should be black and white, but unlike getting a drivers' permit, drinking in a pub or being allowed to vote or join the army, sex has a few 'grey areas' that are prone to argument...

[pixie373]

It can't be on a case-by-case basis. The law has to be completely clear. If someone is legally underage, it is illegal. But that is why i think there should be a maximum age difference in under 18s.

[Sqad]

confused of Menorca.

I agree with pixie. BUT if a 15year old boy has intercourse with a 15year old girl in the UK, then why has only the boy committed an offence?

[shoota]

In the Yemen, the age is 9 with the proviso you must be married....
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ef/Age_of_Consent.png

[LazyGun]

@ Sqad "I agree with pixie. BUT if a 15year old boy has intercourse with a 15year old girl in the UK, then why has only the boy committed an offence?"

It is my understanding that both parties would be considered to have broken the law. It is also my understanding that, in all probability, neither party would be prosecuted or put on the sex offenders register. Do you have any examples that show otherwise, because I cannot remember reading of any?

[shoota]

I worked in a sexual offences unit for a while and instances of underage sex were reported but not frequently and were rarely (if ever) prosecuted provided the ages were in close proximity and consensual on the basis that it was not in the interest of either those concerned or the public.
Imagine the workload if it were decided to investigate and prosecute every 14/15 year old couple who had had sex....