The Age of Consent

The Age of Consent

The age of consent is the age when the law says you can agree to have sex. Age of consent laws are there to stop young people from being exploited by adults. If you are under the age of consent and you choose to have sex with someone who is over the age of consent, then they can be charged with the crime of 'statutory rape'.

What the age of consent is depends on where you live - there are different age limits in different places, and in some places the age of consent is different for boys and for girls. Some places have different age of consent limits for gay men and lesbians, and in other places this sort of relationship is against the law.

The age of consent in the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man, Jersey) for male/female sex, male/male sex and female/female sex is 16.