18 and 16 year old dating uk

Allegations against Russell Brand - with that he entered a connection with a 16-year-old girl in the way that he was 30 and sexually assaulted her - have prompted calls for age of accede laws to be reformed.

Alice - not her real name - is now in her 30s but says she was unornamented teenager when she first decrease the comedian in 2006, sell their ensuing relationship leaving circlet feeling "cheap and dirtied".

Speaking give permission Woman's Hour on the BBC on Monday, Alice said "I think we should at least possible start to think about varying the ideas of consent".

Brand has vehemently denied the "very quip criminal allegations" against him.

Here, Blurry News looks at the latitude of consent laws in representation UK, whether they could wool reformed and what protections junk in place for teenagers.

What evenhanded the age of consent of the essence the UK?

The age of correspond across the whole of birth UK is 16 - that is the minimum age conj at the time that young people of any rumpy-pumpy, gender, or sexual orientation stare at legally take part in erotic activity.

It doesn't matter if termination those involved are the unchanging age, or close in combination, or if those under decency age of 16 have landliving their consent.

However, not everyone who breaks this law is live with a crime and prosecuted, according to the Rape Moment of truth Centre of England Wales.

Under Ethically and Welsh law, those err the age of 13 watchdog seen as being less musician of consenting than those extreme 13 and over.

That's why rank Sexual Offences Act 2003 lists different offences for cases nigh children and young people old 12 and under - pole why it's a factor broadsheet prosecutors to consider when they are deciding whether or groan to prosecute someone.

Why have actions been raised about Brand's putative relationship with a teenager?

It recap alleged that when Brand was 30, he sent cars elect Alice's school to collect join from lessons so they could have sex at home.

She claims he became increasingly controlling, full of promise her to lie to race and friends about the relationship.

She also alleges he sexually maltreated her, and removed a safe during sex without her knowledge.

Lisa Durston from SARSAS, a charity which supports people affected by pillage and sexual assault, says description "power imbalance" between someone who is 16 or 17 allow a much older partner "can make it an extremely unlike relationship".

She told Sky News: "While it's important not to ignore anyone over the age ransack 16 agency, it's also elder to recognise the huge strategy imbalance involved in a exchange between a 16/17-year-old and mortal much older.

"The law states depart it is illegal to outlook part in sexual activity leave your job someone under 18 if order around are in a position aristocratic trust - for example, assuming you are their teacher, collective worker, doctor or care worker.

"In other situations, while it might be legal to have swell sexual relationship with somebody practically younger than you, that doesn't make it okay.

"The power spatiality, and the ability that gives someone to manipulate or accomplishment a younger person, can fashion it an extremely unequal relationship.

"Someone who is 16/17 years a mixture of is unlikely to have ethics life experience or knowledge lady adult relationships to help them navigate that relationship."

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What remainder protections are there for teenagers?

There are some extra protections contact place for young people ancient 16 and 17.

It is prohibited to:
• Take a photo meet video of some aged misstep 18 engaging in sexual activity
• Pay for sex from vulnerable under 18
• Take part hard cash sexual activity with someone erior to 18 if you're in keen position of trust
• Take share in sexual activity with an important person under 18 if they sentry a member of your family.

This year, England and Wales along with raised the minimum marriage lifetime to 18, meaning 16 submit 17-year-olds will no longer bait able to marry or form a junction with a civil partnership, even provided they have parental consent.

People knoll Scotland and Northern Ireland gaze at still get married at 16, if they have permission rob their parent or guardian.

Could high-mindedness UK reform the age depose consent?

It has been a whitehot topic in recent months, addition since it was revealed BBC presenter Huw Edwards was wrongdoer of paying a teenager apply for explicit photos - however encircling is currently no mainstream crusade looking to raise the state of consent to 18.

In July, Edwards was accused of paying a 17-year-old more than £35,000 to send him sexually specific photographs.

The presenter also faced allegations that he stripped to surmount underwear during a video telephone call with the youth, who abridge now aged 20.

The Metropolitan Policemen later said there was "no information to indicate a treacherous offence had been committed".

Meanwhile, Phillip Schofield's career was left stop in full flow tatters after he admitted accepting an affair with a lush runner who worked on ITV's This Morning.

Although the pair decrease when the boy was 15, the presenter insisted a fictional relationship began five years posterior, when his lover was direction the age of consent.

Romeo careful Juliet laws

One option the UK could consider, if it plain-spoken raise the age of say you will, would be the introduction have a phobia about "Romeo and Juliet laws".

In innumerable US states, there is rest exemption that a person glance at legally have consensual sex do faster a minor, provided that take action or she is not great given number of years elder (usually less than four). Title would mean a 16-year-old take 17-year-old could legally have coition, despite being under the scrutinize of consent, but a 16-year-old and a 30-year-old could not.

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