NO: Chris Atkinson, NSPCC Policy Adviser
Research shows that between 25 to 40 per cent of all alleged sexual abuse involves young perpetrators. A difficult balance must be achieved between protecting against a range of coercive behaviour, while not criminalising appropriate mutually agreed activity between young people. This needs to be clear in guidelines for police and those working with young people, alongside services to ensure children and young people who display sexually harmful behaviour are treated as children first.
YES: Jan Barlow, chief executive of Brook and a member of the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy
The act went too far in criminalising all sexual behaviour between young people. We're pleased to see that guidance from the Home Office and Crown Prosecution Service makes it clear that young people of a similar age won't be prosecuted for consensual sexual activity unless there is evidence of abuse or exploitation.
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