Change the legal age of consent to intercourse to 18

148
signatures
closedHome OfficeOpened 12 December 2025Closed 12 June 2026

Background

To change the legal age of sexual consent to 18 instead of 16

Additional details

Legally you are not classed as an adult until you are 18 - at 16 you cannot buy alcohol or tobacco, get a tattoo, serve on a jury, buy fireworks, get married without parental permission, have a credit card and/or buy lottery tickets and scratchcards and you are still a child and tried as a child if you break the law. Children do not have the mentality to be able to consent to have sexual intercourse or to have a child.

Where it’s popular

Constituencies with the most signatures on this petition.

Source: UK Government & Parliament Petitions service. Petition ID: 749248.