Relationships
You are tied up in a web of relationships. It's one of the best things about being human. But sometimes this will cause you problems.
You may be in trouble with sex - STD's, unplanned pregnancy, abuse.
Someone may be bullying you or you may be suffering from violence.
A friend may owe you money that you don't feel you can ask for.
Or what do you do when a relationship ends? - or when you decide you want to live together, or get married?
These seemingly personal events can have wider legal implications that you may have to consider.
Whatever your age, at Littlehampton CAB we can offer advice and point you in the right direction. We can give you the information to help you to speak up for yourself.
Lesbians and gay men
It is not illegal for a girl or young woman to have a lesbian relationship.
However, if one of them is under 16, her partner may be charged with indecent assault.
It is illegal for a man to have a sexual relationship with another man until he is 18.
A boy or young man aged under 16 can be charged with indecent assault if he engages in a homosexual act with another boy under 16 (who, legally, cannot give consent) or with someone older who has not consented. The older male can also face a criminal charge.
A boy or young man aged under 17 could be placed under a supervision or care order if he is having a homosexual relationship.
Heterosexual sex
It is unlawful for a man to have sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 16, even when she gives her consent.
It is unlawful for a woman to have sexual intercourse with a boy under the age of 16, regardless of his having consented. A girl or young woman cannot be prosecuted for having unlawful sexual intercourse at any age. However, if she has sex with a boy or young man under the age of 16, she could be prosecuted for indecent assault. If the boy is under 14, she could be charged with gross indecency. Prosecution are, however, rare.
A boy under ten is considered in law to be incapable of having sexual intercourse. He cannot, therefore, be charged with unlawful sexual intercourse for having sex with a girl under 16. He could, however, be charged with indecent assault.
A boy or young man aged ten or over can be prosecuted for having unlawful sexual intercourse if the girl or young woman was under 16. If s/he was aged 13 or over but under 16, he may have a defence if he has no previous convictions and he reasonably thought s/he was over 16.
If the young man is aged over 17 and is convicted, he can be fined, or sent to youth custody or a detention centre. If he is aged 17 or over but under 21 he may be detained in a young offender institution for up to two years.
Contraception
There are no age restrictions on giving contraceptive advice and supplies. If you under 16, a doctor is allowed to prescribe contraception for you without the consent or knowledge of your parent(s).
However, a doctor can inform the parent(s) if she/he considers you not to be sufficiently mature.
Abortion
Whatever your age, you are entitled to a confidential consultation with a doctor, provided you make it clear that she/he does not want your parent(s) to be told.
However, a doctor who is unwilling to accept a request for confidentiality can refuse to discuss the matter.
A girl under 16 who wants to discuss abortion with her doctor should, therefore, check at the outset of an interview whether the doctor is prepared to give a confidential consultation.
If a doctor has said she/he is unwilling to give a confidential consultation, or if the girl does not want to go to her family doctor for another reason, you will need to refer her to another agency.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
If you think you have a venereal disease (VD) you can go to a family doctor, family planning clinic, pregnancy advisery service or VD clinic.
If you are under 16 it is for the doctor to decide whether or not s/he is willing to act without consulting your parent(s).
If you are concerned about confidentiality, you should check whether or not the doctor is prepared to treat you in confidence.