To think we should up the age of consent to 18?

[whatnet]

I just have this utterly sick feeling about the constant narrative pushed in the UK about a CHILD being ‘16’ and therefore, “what is your problem?”… “it’s ‘legal’” I am so sick of the exploitation of our girls in this country. Our CHILDREN. Our future. Who do not have a voice, because they are children. They need to be protected. I will pre empt some of your arguments. The UK government has classified the violence against Women and Girls as a “National Threat”

https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/tackling-violence-against-women-and-girls-in-the-uk/

A 16 year old girl is a child and should be protected as a child, by law.

@XenoBitch My understanding with these Romeo and Juliet laws where I at least live in the US is that some discretion can be exercised. Technically it might be illegal, but is unlikely to result in charges as long as it’s consensual and there’s a small age gap. Plus, someone would actually have to report the couple and if parents are ok with two 17-year-olds sleeping together, why would they suddenly change their minds when one has their birthday?

These types of laws are really targeting say a 23-year-old sleeping with a 16-year-old.

It shouldn't be legal for adult to have sex with kids

Astounded this needs saying.

The more I think about it I definitely think we should have some sort of Romeo & Juliet Law. 16 & 17 years should not be having sex with older adults.

I'm not sure that laws which require high levels of discretion to achieve what they set out to are good laws.

I agree totally with the idea of a Romeo and Juliet concept but much better to be eg 16-18 year olds can consent with a partner with a less than two year age gap. The idea of a cliff edge at 18 where a previously legal sexual relationship becomes illegal makes no sense at all.

Yes, I agree.

Ideally men in their 30's would not be using their status and fame to exploit 16 year olds or 18 year olds but such people sadly do exist and have done so over many generations. What we need is better equip our young people to spot the warning signs and to steer well clear of such horrible creeps.

Yes young people need to be taught the warning signs of abusive relationships, including grooming & love bombing, which is kind of the same thing, just different expressions used depending on the age of the female involved.

But young boys can also be victims of similar behaviour

HamBone · Yesterday 22:07

@XenoBitch My understanding with these Romeo and Juliet laws where I at least live in the US is that some discretion can be exercised. Technically it might be illegal, but is unlikely to result in charges as long as it’s consensual and there’s a small age gap. Plus, someone would actually have to report the couple and if parents are ok with two 17-year-olds sleeping together, why would they suddenly change their minds when one has their birthday?

These types of laws are really targeting say a 23-year-old sleeping with a 16-year-old.

This really makes sense. Some really interesting discussions on this thread from different perspectives. It is reassuring that the majority do still think of 16 and 17 year olds as children and they deserve to be legally protected as children (both girls and boys). Thank you mumsnetters you have restored some of my faith in humanity. I hope there is a change in the law soon.

Just another thought. If the age of consent was raised to 18/Romeo and Juliet Law, this would force a lot of media coverage and a need for more discussion around consent, and what that means. I noted quite a few responses highlighting the need for better education etc… I agree.

So a 15 yo can have sex with her 17 yo boyfriend but once he hits 18 they are supposed to abstain until she is also 18? Not going to happen.

I think Ham explained that well…

HamBone · Yesterday 22:07

@XenoBitch My understanding with these Romeo and Juliet laws where I at least live in the US is that some discretion can be exercised. Technically it might be illegal, but is unlikely to result in charges as long as it’s consensual and there’s a small age gap. Plus, someone would actually have to report the couple and if parents are ok with two 17-year-olds sleeping together, why would they suddenly change their minds when one has their birthday?

These types of laws are really targeting say a 23-year-old sleeping with a 16-year-old.

This really makes sense. Some really interesting discussions on this thread from different perspectives. It is reassuring that the majority do still think of 16 and 17 year olds as children and they deserve to be legally protected as children (both girls and boys). Thank you mumsnetters you have restored some of my faith in humanity. I hope there is a change in the law

No.

Raising the age of consent to 18 is unrealistic, pointless and unenforceable. All it would do is make the law look ridiculous and out of touch to horny teenagers.
The current climate of a return to authoritarian puritanism and illiberal, censorious policing of language & behaviour is ridiculous. Britain cannot be dragged back to the 1950s, however much some people would like to see that.

The law already allows predators to be prosecuted where crimes have been committed so if evidence exists to convict Brand, he should face trial.

There is no need for 16 year olds to be having sex, all this "power of the hormones" bullshit. Me and my friend group easily avoided having sex at that age. Excusing things because "hormones" is a dangerous narrative.

“Legal historyIn 1275, the first age of consent was set in England, at age 12 (Statute of Westminster I). In 1875, the Offences Against the Person Act raised the age to 13 in Great Britain and Ireland, and ten years later the Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 raised it to 16.”

Let’s drag ourselves out of the 1950’s and make new laws for the present day.

You can no longer get married at 16 in England and Wales. Law changed in Feb this year. Not even with consent.
I agree with what you say.

Currently under 16s can consent to sex, however the sex is unlawful. If the child consented the criminal charge is "sexual activity with a child" not rape. The exception is for children under the age of 13 who are considered not to be able to consent at all and therefore the charge is automatically rape.

There's a lot of confusion about what the Sexual Offences Act 2003 says - it doesn't even mention an "age of consent" which is not a legal concept.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/contents

Yes - it should be illegal for adults to have sex with under 18's with some caveat for teenagers of a similar age.

I don't 30/40/50 year old adults should be having sex with 16/17 year old children

Ok well some 16 year olds want to have sex and are physically and emotionally ready to have sex, and just because you and your mates didn’t – so what? If you think 16 year olds are suddenly going to stop having sex you’re being v unrealistic. There’s nothing at all wrong with 16 year olds having sex with each other and other young people of a similar age.

No one is proposing that 16 year olds stop having sex. The argument is that we up the age of consent to 18/Romeo and Juliet Law to protect 16 and 17 year olds from predatory and violent sexual behaviour from adults. Someone mentioned Philip Schofield and Hue Edwards earlier and how they thought their behaviour should still have been viewed as criminal. I agree, but currently there is no legislation to protect children at 16 and 17. It’s like they are seen as ‘fair game’ 🤢

Need, no. There's no need for adults to be having sex either, once they're done procreating. People have sex because it feels good, because it brings closeness and because it's fun. Let's not go back to puritanical moralising about it and focus on protecting the vulnerable instead. Legislation may have a part in that, but so do education and the socialisation of (mainly) males.

I would make it so only people under 20 years old could have sex with 16 and 17 year olds. Anyone over the age of 20 should not be having sex with anyone under the age of 18 full stop in my honest opinion.

Yeah, we are one of the last countries allowing ‘child’ marriage at 16, before you become an adult. I can only think that the government just can’t be bothered to do anything about it. They are not exactly on top of other things.

Yeah, we are one of the last countries allowing ‘child’ marriage at 16, before you become an adult. I can only think that the government just can’t be bothered to do anything about it. They are not exactly on top of other things.

Agreed. The UK government are so concerned with protecting their own. Nothing in the UK is child centred. It’s depressing. Just look at our Child Maintenance Service. It is currently under Judicial review for potential illegal practices. A country that doesn’t properly legislate or expect both parents to be financially responsible for a child. The USA might get a lot wrong but they do consider anyone under 18 a child and they do expect both parents, both morally and legally to support their child.

The U.K. government has done something about it (raised the marriage age to 18). It’s the Scottish government who are dragging their feet.

The age of consent is not the issue, it really isn't. Its the predator. The law will end up causing more issues than it will solve.

The behaviour of predators needs to be studied and that will inform how to educate everyone and what laws would help protect all.

The Romeo and Juliet law is to protect those pre consent age - but no I would not vote to take consent from a 16 year old.