Opinion: Debate - Should police have to be told of under-16s having sex?

NO: Jonathan Picken, chair, British Association for the Study and Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect - Young people under the age of 13 are considered unable to consent to sexual activity and it remains illegal for those under 16. Factors other than age are also significant. Guidance such as that produced by Sheffield ACPC attempts to balance need and risk. The right to access services in confidence should be a principle we protect. On occasion, however, professionals will need to act assertively to protect vulnerable young people from exploitation.

YES: Phillip Noyes, director of public policy, NSPCC - The law needs to be consistently applied. Agencies shouldn't redefine the age of consent or set their own criteria for what is acceptable sexual activity. The police need to be told so they can decide whether the sexual activity is abusive and a case needs to be taken. Evidence submitted to the Bichard Inquiry outlined how police and social workers did not recognise the threat posed by Soham murderer Ian Huntley despite numerous allegations of sexual contact with underage girls.