Lowering consent age ‘sends wrong message’

UNITED KINGDOM
ITV

A lawyer representing 72 of the victims of Jimmy Savile has warned that lowering the age of consent would “send the wrong message to predatory adults.”

I have real concerns about the prospect of the age of consent being lowered.

Predatory adults would be given legitimacy to focus their attentions on even younger teenagers and there is a real risk that society would be sending out the message that sex between 14-15-year-olds is also acceptable.

My work with victims of abuse results in me talking to many who felt pressurised into having sex at a young age but have gone on to live a lifetime of regret.