Age of consent to lowered from 17 to 16 in North
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
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The British Government has announced plans to lower the age of sexual consent in the North from 17 to 16, despite opposition from the Stormont Assembly.
The move is designed to bring the North into line with the rest of the UK.
The reduction in the age of consent is part of tough new sexual offences laws aimed at protecting children.
Under the laws, it will automatically be an offence punishable by up to life in prison to engage in sexual activity with a child under 13, regardless of whether it was consensual.
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