Sex and the Law

The Sexual Offences Act aims to protect the safety and rights of young people and make it easier to prosecute people who pressure or force others into having sex they don’t want. Forcing someone to have sex is a crime.

Under the Sexual Offences Act you still have the right to confidential advice on contraception, condoms, pregnancy and abortion, even if you are under 16. But remember, whatever your age, you shouldn’t have sex until you feel ready.

In England the legal age for young people to consent to have sex is 16, whether you are straight, gay or bisexual. In Scotland, Wales and England, homosexual sex is legal between men as long as both partners agree to it and both are over 16. In Northern Ireland, you have to be 17 before you can legally have gay sex and it’s 18 in Jersey. As long as girls are over 16 and both agree to it, lesbian sex is legal.

• Having sex should always be your decision.
   
• Sex is only legal if you’ve given your consent (permission) – this means you don’t have to have sex unless you want to and no one should force you.
   
• The law says you can’t give proper consent if you’ve been drugged, held against your will, are asleep, can’t say no because you have a disability, you’re being forced into it or because you’re afraid the person will be violent to you.
   
• If anyone makes you have sex in these situations, they have committed a serious crime. That crime is called rape.
   
• If you’re made to do other sexual acts, or someone touches you in a sexual way when you didn’t want them to, this is called sexual assault - and is also a crime.
   
• If you ever feel uncomfortable or under pressure to do anything you don’t want to, tell somebody you trust.
   

• If you want to have sex, make sure the person you want to have sex with really wants to. If you’re not sure how keen they are, talk to them and if they don’t want to have sex, put the brakes on straight away.
   
• The age of consent in the UK is 16. Having sex with someone below the age of consent is against the law and having sex with anyone under the age of 13 is a very serious offence.

What should I do if I’m raped or sexually assaulted?

If you’ve been raped or assaulted it’s never your fault and you are not to blame.

Who to talk to?

You can talk to the police about a rape and contact your local Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARCs) or local Rape Crisis Centre for confidential help and support.

Jasmine House, Telephone Helpline: 0116 2558852

Juniper Lodge provides telephone and face to face support for men and women who are over 16 and living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who have experienced rape or sexual assault. Juniper Lodge Sexual Assault Response Centre
     - Tel: 0116 273 5461.
     - 24 hour helpline: 0116 273 3330.