NationStates Jolt Archive

This weekend in the UK a police chief stated that there is a grey area arounf the age of consent, and that he does not believe that youngish men who have sex with 13, 14 or 15 year olds should be prosecuted or labelled as pedophiles.

The reasoning was based on:

- Pedophilia should be a term that applies to sexual attraction to pre-pubescents, not sexually mature 15year old girls.

- Many teenagers have relationships that bridge the age of consent (16 years in the UK) and that a 16 or 17 year olf boy having sex with a 14/15 year old girl is a very different situation to a 30year old guy doing the same.

Below is an article with more detail

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6163500.stm

Thoughts anyone?

- Many teenagers have relationships that bridge the age of consent (16 years in the UK) and that a 16 or 17 year olf boy having sex with a 14/15 year old girl is a very different situation to a 30year old guy doing the same.

He's right.

While I agree with the point he made, it would be very difficault to legislate against. But then he did say it was his personal opion and not that of the government for of the police force.

I suppose, rather than 'pedophile', the descriptive term would be 'ephebophile'.

Aside from the precise terminology, he's on tricky ground here. For a start, what does he mean by 'youngish'? He mentions up to 30, and personally, I'd consider that to be way over the top when referring to partners as young as 13.

Up to 20, as he later amended, doesn't seem so bad, but still feels uncomfortable. There's society's influence for you, I suppose.

But no, I'd agree with them not being pedophiles.

Go the German way :)
Between 14 and 16 = legal, if the partner is under 18
Over 16 = legal

I daresay that if a 14 yo had sex with a 13 yo, it would be regarded as illegal, but unpunishable by most German courts.

He's right.

Pretty much, yeah. I'm suprised there hasn't been more of a tabloid outcry on this, actually.

Pretty much, yeah. I'm suprised there hasn't been more of a tabloid outcry on this, actually.

Probably because quite a lot of people agree with him, although that has never stopped the press before.

I'm just suprised that this is so slow starting here on NSG, I would have thought people would be all over it.

Go the German way :)
Oh that's you're answer for everything ;)
Between 14 and 16 = legal, if the partner is under 18
Over 16 = legal

I daresay that if a 14 yo had sex with a 13 yo, it would be regarded as illegal, but unpunishable by most German courts.
Though in all seriousness the German way looks teh win.

Go the German way :)
Between 14 and 16 = legal, if the partner is under 18
Over 16 = legal

I daresay that if a 14 yo had sex with a 13 yo, it would be regarded as illegal, but unpunishable by most German courts.

In the UK they kinda do this - the guidance is that they should not normally prosecute teenagers having sex with teenagers in a lot of cases. It is illegal - but you're pretty unlucky to end up in court even if the cops catch you.

The Cop was basically calling for the current practice to be recognised in law.

In the UK they kinda do this - the guidance is that they should not normally prosecute teenagers having sex with teenagers in a lot of cases. It is illegal - but you're pretty unlucky to end up in court even if the cops catch you.

The Cop was basically calling for the current practice to be recognised in law.

I think I'd prefer that the CPS were simply given a set of guideline and then allowed to make decisions about prosecution on a case by case basis. I would imagine that this particular issue has some many possible permutations that it would be impossible to legislate for all of them.

Probably because quite a lot of people agree with him, although that has never stopped the press before.

I'm just suprised that this is so slow starting here on NSG, I would have thought people would be all over it.

Well, maybe people have realised that it's a bit of a non-issue - a copper saying there's a bit bigger grey area where there already was a grey area. I am suprised no one's (here or in the media) has gone omgpedo! yet. Ah well.

- Pedophilia should be a term that applies to sexual attraction to pre-pubescents, not sexually mature 15year old girls.
If only the Americans would take THAT hint... <_<

I like to use the formula:
Minimum age of sexual partner = (your age) / 2 + 7
And, maximum age of sexual partner = (your age) - 7 * 2

So for example, a 15-year old has a range of 14.5-16. A 16-year old has a range of 15-18. And an 18-year old has a range of 16-22.

This formula breaks down under the age of fourteen, which seems fine with me, as that seems like a reasonable absolute minimum.

Pretty much, yeah. I'm suprised there hasn't been more of a tabloid outcry on this, actually.
I'll wait for tomorrow's Daily Mail.

The German way does seem like the way to go, I have to say.

GC's formula work fine in principle, but personally I don't see anything wrong with, as an example of something that falls outside the 'acceptable' range, a 20 year old sleeping with a 30 year old.

Well the law is that over-18's can't go with under-16's (looked it up since I was dating a 15-year old at the time) but 17 and under aren't really restricted.

If the younger one seems sane then the cops will leave you alone (assuming they even catch you) because it's grey ENOUGH. Most people have a thing about not dating seriously underage kids anyway so it's not a massive issue to anyone really.

These child charities kicking up a fuss are being pretty stupid really (though they have the inklings of a point it's not much).

If only the Americans would take THAT hint... <_<

Yeah, then it'd be perfectly permissible for you to sit outside the local high school in your van, waiting for the first dumb girl to accept your offer of a ride home.

Yeah, then it'd be perfectly permissible for you to sit outside the local high school in your van, waiting for the first dumb girl to accept your offer of a ride home.

Provided she consented..

Tis true, I believe. Consentual sexual activity amungst your own age range shouldn't be a problem.