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 ?

[sandyRoe]

Where would it all end? Society might find itself reverting to Victorian values when 12, or was it 13, was considered acceptable.

[naomi24]

No.

[ToraToraTora]

no.

[ummmm]

No..

[jd_1984]

The issue of sexual consent I would imagine is based on ensuring individual is mature enough to choose whether he/she is ready to have sex. Have you had a converstaion with a 16 year old recently, it should be increased not decreased. But in truth 15 year olds are having sex, younger than that even.
The reality is most people I know lost their virginity before 16, all be it not long before. I was 17 and was teased by my mates, as if I was weird.

[rockyracoon]

A no from me too.

[ummmm]

That's the thing, JD, many 15 year olds risk it because it's so close to the age of consent. Lower it and more 14 year olds would risk it...

[RATTER15]

No! from me also.

[pixie373]

Only if they're both under 18.

[pixie373]

A person having sex at 15, isn't breaking the law- it's the person who's having sex with them, so i think under 18, the age difference should come into it.

[jd_1984]

There is also the issue of only one half of the couple being above the age of consent, rather than both being under 16.
An older male (say 17/18) having sex with a 15 year old girl is a totally different issue than two 15 year olds doing it because they are "nearly old enough"

[doctordb]

No.

[pusskin]

Its a no from me too.

[anotheoldgit]

No, whoever 'BE' is :0)

I see this as just a let out for paedophiles, because although it is illegal, it is never a criminal offence for the young to have sex under 16, or at least I can never remember a girl or boy of 15 being charged.

[hc4361]

A paedophile would not be interested in a 15 year old girl - paedophiles go for girls who have not gone through puberty or very young boys.

The age of consent is 14 in some European countries, including Spain. It seems to work there.

[jim360]

I think it's still a criminal offence technically (though I might be mistaken), but cases rarely come to light. After all, I doubt most of the children involved see it as a crime, they just enjoy the heat of the moment. And then, cases that do come to light are unlikely to be prosecuted because it's not really "in the Public Interest" to do so.

I think many young people wouldn't care what the age of consent was anyway -- certainly not those who are already having sex. So I'd say keep it where it is.

[mikey4444]

If Fred is up and about this morning, perhaps he can let us know why we don't have a Statutory Rape offence in Britain.

[shoota]

I believe Spain is currently 13 hc but there are plans to raise it to 15 this year.
I do think that this is one area where Europe might reach consenus of opinion as it seems wrong that a couple can be legal in one country but go on holiday and be illegal in another.
I think 15 is perfectly acceptable provided that there are sufficient safeguards against coercion and exploitation.