SEXUAL OFFENCES BILL: Children's rights charity voices fury at Government bill plans

The bill entered report stage and its third reading in the House of Lords on Monday 3 November.

Terri Dowty, acting joint national co-ordinator for the alliance, said: "We are absolutely furious as we have been told there will be no more amendments."

The bill has been criticised by children's organisations and sexual health charity fpa (see p6, letters) for inadvertently criminalising consensual sexual activity among under-16s. However, it is likely to remain unaltered if, as expected, it becomes law later this month.

"The bill was introduced to bring the law up to date, but it seems we are resurrecting a 50-year-old statute instead," said Dowty. "Given the UK's record on teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, legislation must reflect young people's lives. It is disappointing that we have failed to do this." Tony Atkins, sexual health promotion worker at the Sheffield Centre for HIV and Sexual Health, said: "Protection of young people has to be applauded, but the bill is open to misinterpretation, and it is important that support services don't withdraw from young people as a result. It feels reactive and it is unclear how teenagers will be treated by the law."