I've been in this position.

I was 17 years old dating a 16 year old. Once I turned 18 years old, it seemed this mother HATED me. She hated we were having pre-marital sex. She hated he slept over (though she allowed it...Go figure). On more than one occasion, she threatened to call the cops on me.

Where is the law that would have kept me safe? Should I have to be punished because I was dating someone and we were both underage, but break up with him because we had NO choice but to get older?

There needs to be some sort of checks and balances so that CRAZY parents can't ruin someones life. I COULD have been classified as a sexual offender for the rest of my life because I had sex with my boyfriend (for about a year at this point) and I couldn't stop time.

I've been in this position.

I was 17 years old dating a 16 year old. Once I turned 18 years old, it seemed this mother HATED me. She hated we were having pre-marital sex. She hated he slept over (though she allowed it...Go figure). On more than one occasion, she threatened to call the cops on me.

Where is the law that would have kept me safe? Should I have to be punished because I was dating someone and we were both underage, but break up with him because we had NO choice but to get older?

There needs to be some sort of checks and balances so that CRAZY parents can't ruin someones life. I COULD have been classified as a sexual offender for the rest of my life because I had sex with my boyfriend (for about a year at this point) and I couldn't stop time.

no i think its absolutely not fair that someone could be labelled as a sexual predator or a sex offender for life for having consensual sex with someone of a similar age group. I dont see much difference between a 16 year old and an 18 year old.
I dont think its ideal, but people need to worry about the 40 year olds grooming youngsters and not people of similar ages getting it on

This! As a teenage girl I have to take responsibility for my actions. I was very sexually active from 14 onwards and damn if I wanted someone I was pretty damn determined to get my little underage claws into them. I have dated guys the same age as me, a year older, two years older...biggest age gap was ten years when I was 15, but tbf I lied and said I was 17 (age of consent here is 16) People definately portray teenage girls as a lot more naiive than they are,especially in popular culture, film/tv etc, it's always the guy trying to talk his gf into sleeping with him and older guys are always trouble, just looking for some hot underage *kitten*. Does it never occur to people that a hormonal teenage girl is a pretty powerful force to be reckoned with? And that a lot of girls WANT and ENJOY sleeping with older guys? Maybe the older guy should "know better", but when there's only a small age gap and you have chemistry and you care about each other, you don't feel like you're breaking the law, it just feels natural. AND some of the most caring, respectful and lovely bfs I've had have been a good few years older than me. Especially if the younger party looks/acts older than their years.

I think it should be assessed on a case to case basis, there is a difference between a 15 year old and 17 year old having consenting sex or a meaningful relationship, and a 17 year old trying to pressure a younger girl into sex when she doesn't want to. I don't think it should be the parents decision to prosecute, as a lot of parents would prosecute simply out of anger that little sally had lost her virginity. I know plenty of people who have dated someone just a year or two younger than them, but on the wrong side of the consent age, and then when they've broken up the younger partner has threatened the older with going to the police, just out of post break up bitterness, and it's not fair that someone can have their life ruined because of a messy teenage relationship.
And the older person definately shouldn't be punished if the younger one was lying about their age, a lot of kids, girls especially, look and act a lot older than their age, and you're not seriously gonna ID someone before you sleep with them are you?! It's not you're fault if a younger person decieves you. In fact in that case, I think there should be repercussions for the partner that lied, therefore putting the older person in such a bad situation!

The age of consent laws are in place to protect young people from paedophiles, or older kids taking advantage of naiive little virgins. It shouldn't be used to punish people (and potentialls ruin their lives) who are in sexual relationships with people that know perfectly well what they want and what they're doing.

he thought she was 17

16 is the age of consent in the UK roaddog.

I dont think its particularly ok. In fact i think a 25 year old having sex with a 16 year old is much more icky than a 18 year old having sex with a 15 year old, yet the first one is legal and the 2nd isnt

its hard to debate when youre coming from different laws I guess. It seems like across the pond 16 year olds are regarded as children, and the age of consent is kind of ingrained as whats morally right, rather than just whats legally right.

We have the same arguments in the UK about under 16s as you have about the under 18s

I wonder if most of eastern europe have the same arguments about the under 14s?

I think people should fight to change the laws. I think people under 21 should be able to date 16 and 17 year olds legally. But until the law is changed, those over 18 should stay away.

Actually, I'm not sure 'statutory rape' as a concept legally exists in the UK. Yes, in theory someone of above the age of consent could be prosecuted for having sexual contact with someone under 16, but cases are typically taken on a common sense, case-by-case basis, and prosecution is generally only undertaken if there is a significant and meaningful age gap, there is no evidence of a previously-existing relationship begun while both parties were underage, or if there is evidence of coercion or force. I am certainly not aware of any similar cases to the one earlier described where a 19 year old was imprisoned for continuing to have sexual relations with his slightly-younger, but still legally a minor, girlfriend. From this side of the pond, that seems truly bizarre.