The age of sexual consent should be lowered to 13yrs, says top barrister...

[Ammi]

The age of consent for sex should be lowered to 13-years-old in a bid to end the 'persecution of old men' in the wake of the Savile sex abuse scandal, a top female barrister has argued.

Lawyer Barbara Hewson described the arrests of celebrities such as Rolf Harris, Dave Lee Travis, Jim Davidson and PR guru Max Clifford under Operation Yewtree as a 'grotesque spectacle' adding it had 'nothing to do with justice or the public interest'.

Ms Hewson, a barrister at Hardwicke chambers in London, described the crimes committed by disgraced broadcaster Stuart Hall as 'low level misdemeanours' which would not normally be prosecuted.

In an article for online magazine Spiked, Ms Hewson, who specialises in reproductive rights, also calls for the end of anonymity for complainants.

Children’s charity the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said to hear such 'outdated and simply ill-informed' views from a highly-experienced barrister 'beggars belief'.

Her comments come as Scotland Yard runs Operation Yewtree, an investigation split into three inquiries into allegations involving deceased presenter Jimmy Savile, involving Savile and others and those involving just others.

A number of high-profile figures have been arrested under Yewtree such as entertainer Rolf Harris, former pop star Gary Glitter, DJ Dave Lee Travis, comedian Jim Davidson and PR guru Max Clifford. All deny any wrongdoing.

Ms Hewson argues that 'the post-Savile witch-hunting of ageing celebs echoes the Soviet Union' and says that it is not difficult to see why some elderly defendants 'conclude that resistance is useless'

She adds: 'But the low-level misdemeanours with which Stuart Hall was charged are nothing like serious crime.'

Ms Hewson continues: 'Ordinarily, Hall’s misdemeanours would not be prosecuted, and certainly not decades after the event.

'What we have here is the manipulation of the British criminal-justice system to produce scapegoats on demand. It is a grotesque spectacle.

She continues: 'It’s time to end this prurient charade, which has nothing to do with justice or the public interest.'

The barrister adds: 'Instead, we should focus on arming today’s youngsters with the savoir-faire and social skills to avoid drifting into compromising situations, and prosecute modern crime.



'As for law reform, now regrettably necessary, my recommendations are remove complainant anonymity, introduce a strict statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions and civil actions and reduce the age of consent to 13.'

Ms Hewson argues that 'touching a 17-year-old’s breast, kissing a 13-year-old, or putting one’s hand up a 16-year-old’s skirt' are not comparable to cases such as the Ealing Vicarage rape or Fordingbridge gang rape and murders from 1986.

She adds: “Anyone suggesting otherwise has lost touch with reality.'

And Ms Hewson labels charities like the NSPCC and the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) as “moral crusaders' who have infiltrated Yewtree.

Peter Watt, director of the NSPCC helpline, said: “These outdated and simply ill-informed views would be shocking to hear from anyone but to hear them from a highly experienced barrister simply beggars belief

'Stuart Hall has pleaded guilty to abusing children as young as nine years old, we think most people would agree that crimes of this nature are incredibly serious. Thankfully the law, and most people, are very clear on this matter.

'To minimise and trivialise the impact of these offences for victims in this way is all but denying that they have in fact suffered abuse at all. Any suggestion of lowering the age of consent could put more young people at risk from those who prey on vulnerable young people.

'And we must strongly defend the right for victims to remain anonymous and to ask for justice no matter when they choose to come forward.

'Many who are abused are bullied, blackmailed and shamed into staying silent, often well into adulthood. We must always be prepared to act no matter how long ago the abuse occurred.

'The actions of those who speak out also protect others from abuse and give confidence to other victims to come forward.'

Ms Hewson is regularly ranked as a Leading Junior by The Legal 500 in the fields of public and administrative law, human rights and civil liberties, and professional discipline and regulatory law, according to her chambers’ website.

She has won cases in the European Court of Human Rights, the Supreme Court and High Court of the Republic of Ireland


more on Sky news: http://news.sky.com/story/1088447/savile-case-led-to-persecution-lawyer-says

[AnnieK]

Mmm wonder if the barrister is a parent? 13 is no age for consent IMO. Many 13 year olds haven't (or only just) hit puberty then. It's just too young.

I wonder if this barrister is a parent? I agree there are have been many crimes of a vicious sexual nature but that still doesn't excuse anyone of touching children inappropriately. I am sure there are some cases in the latest lot that would have gone unreported had it not been for the Saville inquiries but some of her comments don't seem particularly well thought out.

[joeysteele]

I would not be in support of this move at all. I think 13 is too young.
I am not a parent obviously but I would be concerned at 13 being made the age of consent.

[Shaun]

I can smell a firing...

[Niamh.]

Mmm wonder if the barrister is a parent? 13 is no age for consent IMO. Many 13 year olds haven't (or only just) hit puberty then. It's just too young.

I wonder if this barrister is a parent? I agree there are have been many crimes of a vicious sexual nature but that still doesn't excuse anyone of touching children inappropriately. I am sure there are some cases in the latest lot that would have gone unreported had it not been for the Saville inquiries but some of her comments don't seem particularly well thought out.

My daughter just turned 13 and she's still very much a child.

[AnnieK]

My daughter just turned 13 and she's still very much a child.

I think most 13 year olds are - however much they think they are grown up. Children should be children as long as possible and lowering the age opens them up to more abuse, more pressure and less innocence surely? I'm sure most parents of 13 year olds will think the same.

[Jesus.]

If kids that age (as that's what they are) want to have sex, they will have sex. The age of consent is pretty meaningless in that regard. The most disturbing aspect of her point, seems to be to offer protection for older men to take advantage of young girls.

That would never be allowed to happen, but what a wildly misguided thing to not only think, but to state publicly.

[Niamh.]

I think most 13 year olds are - however much they think they are grown up. Children should be children as long as possible and lowering the age opens them up to more abuse, more pressure and less innocence surely? I'm sure most parents of 13 year olds will think the same.

Yes exactly, my daughter hasn't even developed fully yet, she's physically still very much a child, what that woman is saying is disgusting.

If kids that age (as that's what they are) want to have sex, they will have sex. The age of consent is pretty meaningless in that regard. The most disturbing aspect of her point, seems to be to offer protection for older men to take advantage of young girls.

That would never be allowed to happen, but what a wildly misguided thing to not only think, but to state publicly.

Absolutely agree, I know what you're saying about if they want to do it they will but you're right, she's making this point in some sort of defense for old men who were still pretty old men at the time they took advantage of those girls. Not to mention the fact that one of the men she's defending has admitted to raping a 9 year old :bored:

[Firewire]

I don't see the problem with it staying at 16... why is it an issue?

[Livia]

Mmm wonder if the barrister is a parent? 13 is no age for consent IMO. Many 13 year olds haven't (or only just) hit puberty then. It's just too young.

I wonder if this barrister is a parent? I agree there are have been many crimes of a vicious sexual nature but that still doesn't excuse anyone of touching children inappropriately. I am sure there are some cases in the latest lot that would have gone unreported had it not been for the Saville inquiries but some of her comments don't seem particularly well thought out.

While I agree with everything you say, Annie, I am not a parent. Being a parent doesn't give you a special insight into right and wrong, as many parents who beat and even kill their own children prove. Everyone on this forum has a link to a 13 year old inasmuch as we all used to be one and can look back and see how terribly childlike we were at that age, although at the time we thought we were very grown up.

I'm sure all 13 year old think that they're very sophisticated. You've only got to walk past a secondary school emptying out and see the girls dressed up like street walkers to know that. Many young teenage girls are very provocative, but they are not adult enough to make informed choices and that's why the law must protect them. The barrister involved in this is an idiot.

[Niamh.]

While I agree with everything you say, Annie, I am not a parent. Being a parent doesn't give you a special insight into right and wrong, as many parents who beat and even kill their own children prove. Everyone on this forum has a link to a 13 year old inasmuch as we all used to be one and can look back and see how terribly childlike we were at that age, although at the time we thought we were very grown up.

I'm sure all 13 year old think that they're very sophisticated. You've only got to walk past a secondary school emptying out and see the girls dressed up like street walkers to know that. Many young teenage girls are very provocative, but they are not adult enough to make informed choices and that's why the law must protect them. The barrister involved in this is an idiot.

I don't think Annie meant that being a parent gives you special insight into right and wrong Livia, what I picked up from what she said was that if she actually had a 13 year old daughter herself would she think it's fine for some 40 year old man to sleep with her? I doubt she would.

[AnnieK]

While I agree with everything you say, Annie, I am not a parent. Being a parent doesn't give you a special insight into right and wrong, as many parents who beat and even kill their own children prove. Everyone on this forum has a link to a 13 year old inasmuch as we all used to be one and can look back and see how terribly childlike we were at that age, although at the time we thought we were very grown up.

I'm sure all 13 year old think that they're very sophisticated. You've only got to walk past a secondary school emptying out and see the girls dressed up like street walkers to know that. Many young teenage girls are very provocative, but they are not adult enough to make informed choices and that's why the law must protect them. The barrister involved in this is an idiot.

Yeah, I agree Livia, my point about whether she was a parent was to see if she had thought of an old man touching her 13 year old daughter and still thinking it was ok but I agree with your point that being a parent doesn't make that insight special but I always try to put myself in a position where I think of how I would feel if certain things happened to my loved ones. Her comments leave me in no doubt that I would probably inflict some pretty serious damage if anyone touched my child inappropriately at the age of 6, 9, 15 or older I guess but you really don't have to be a parent to work that out either I guess.

[Scarlett.]

The woman who said this bullcrap needs to be suspended or fired.

Saying sexual abuse is a "Low level misdemeanour" what the ****.

[GiRTh]

'The Persecution of old men'. Shouldn't that be 'dirty' old men. I tuned out after reading that bullsh*t.

If this barrister saw how these pervs act in bars with girls they know are much younger than them then I'm sure she realise not much persecution is happening here.

[Livia]

Yeah, I agree Livia, my point about whether she was a parent was to see if she had thought of an old man touching her 13 year old daughter and still thinking it was ok but I agree with your point that being a parent doesn't make that insight special but I always try to put myself in a position where I think of how I would feel if certain things happened to my loved ones. Her comments leave me in no doubt that I would probably inflict some pretty serious damage if anyone touched my child inappropriately at the age of 6, 9, 15 or older I guess but you really don't have to be a parent to work that out either I guess.

I got your point Annie, I wasn't really being critical, just saying...

I have three beautiful nieces aged 10, 8 and 4. I'd kill anyone who touched them. Seriously, I would go to jail...

[Cherie]

I don't see the problem with it staying at 16... why is it an issue?

It is an issue because of the number of men taken in for questioning as part of the Yewtree investigations, presumaly if the age of consent was dropped to 13 then alot of these guys would not be in the "net" so to speak, though I doubt even if the age of consent was changed the law could be applied retropectively. The age of consent in Spain is 13 :conf: but it's too young I don't care how emotionally or physically mature they are or think they are.

[Niamh.]

It is an issue because of the number of men taken in for questioning as part of the Yewtree investigations, presumaly if the age of consent was dropped to 13 then alot of these guys would not be in the "net" so to speak, though I doubt even if the age of consent was changed the law could be applied retropectively. The age of consent in Spain is 13 :conf: but it's too young I don't care how emotionally or physically mature they are or think they are.

Is it really? wow, I didn't know that

[Cherie]

Is it really? wow, I didn't know that

Yeah I found that quite shocking especially given how Catholic the country is!

[Vanessa]

:shocked: 13 is far too young.

[arista]

Dirty Fecker



This will never happen

[Nedusa]

I strongly disagree, I think the age of 16 is probably the best age to allow the age of consent as it is the age when you are considered to be adult enough to understand the implications of starting a sexual relationship. It is currently the age when you can marry legally (with Parental consent) and are considered mature enough to understand all the issues & responsibilities that come with sexual relationships.

I appreciate some children are more or less mature than others but the law has to set an age which the majority of young people will be considered mature enough.

Also we have to protect 13 or 14 year olds from being pressurised into giving consent by older people who could take advantage of these youngster's immature emotional states. I think the law has the age of consent pitched at about the right age when all things are considered...!!!

[Niamh.]

Yeah I found that quite shocking especially given how Catholic the country is!

Well.................

[Black Dagger]

Urgh, no, they are still children, let kids be kids ffs.

[Jesus.]

Spain was ruled by the Moors (Muslims) for many centuries which may explain the historically low legal age.

[Jack_]

Instead of lowering the age how about a more open and liberal approach to sex education? That's the problem, this whole shying away and treating it as if it's some dirty weird thing that needs to be kept under wraps from kids for as long as possible, that causes more problems rather than solving them.

[Marsh.]

Purely to protect the dirty old pervs? FFS, sack her.

[lostalex]

old men sexually molesting 13 y/o girls.... that's not a big deal? WTF is wrong with this woman?

This woman makes Sarah Palin seem sane.

[Ryan57]

I can smell a firing...

Bleedin' heck, at first I thought you said fingering.

Anywho, 13 would be ridiculous.

[arista]

old men sexually molesting 13 y/o girls.... that's not a big deal? WTF is wrong with this woman?

This woman makes Sarah Palin seem sane.


Its is in America and UK.

[Vicky.]

Ah yeah, lets change the laws so that these dirty old men get away with it. Then when the futures dirty old men go even younger, lets change the age of consent again to 8 or so. And so on until theres no age of consent. All to protect the perverts. Great idea.

[Jake.]

13 year olds having sex? That's bloody disgusting, needs to sort herself out

[lostalex]

Ah yeah, lets change the laws so that these dirty old men get away with it. Then when the futures dirty old men go even younger, lets change the age of consent again to 8 or so. And so on until theres no age of consent. All to protect the perverts. Great idea.


As long as the old rich men are happy who the **** are we to complain? How dare we interupt their twilight years with complaints about their fiddling of children sooooo long ago.

WTF is wrong with that woman? It's one thing to have those type of opinions, it's another thing to actually feel comfortable expressing those opinions in public. What a pitiful, delusional, and dangerous HAG she is.

keep making apologies you old bitch, because we should be protecting the old perverted rich men, not the young vulnerable girls. What a stupid ****ing woman.

[Ramsay]

She is an idiot

[AnnieK]

As long as the old rich men are happy who the **** are we to complain? How dare we interupt their twilight years with complaints about their fiddling of children sooooo long ago.

WTF is wrong with that woman? It's one thing to have those type of opinions, it's another thing to actually feel comfortable expressing those opinions in public. What a pitiful, delusional, and dangerous HAG she is.

Couldn't agree more....

[lostalex]

Let's keep in mind that not only were a lot of these women that were assaulted much younger and also from working class backrounds, but also these men that are being prosecuted actually went to Homes and Hospitals designed for girls that already had mental health issues, under the guise of "charity". So these girls were already MORE vulnerable than most other girls. Also girls and woman who were new to the industry and looked up to these men as mentors.

So it's not even just the age of the girls they preyed upon, they specifically targeted girls that were vulnerable in many other ways. It was literally like shooting fish in a barrel for these men. ****ing cowards.

[zakman440]

BNsrK6P9QvI

[Mystic Mock]

Instead of lowering the age how about a more open and liberal approach to sex education? That's the problem, this whole shying away and treating it as if it's some dirty weird thing that needs to be kept under wraps from kids for as long as possible, that causes more problems rather than solving them.

I agree with this, a lot of adults are quite annoying when it comes to this subject as eventually the children are gonna be adults and they will need some education on how to actually sustain the Human race.

And 13 is to young as I was even more immature 4 years ago than I am now, and I think it's sick of that woman to defend a man who raped a 9 year old.

[lostalex]

we arn't talking about kids having sex with each other , we are talking about adults having sex with kids. especially adults who are celebrities and have wealth and fame and influence on kids, and forcing themselves by various means of influence onto those children.

This has nothing to do with children's natural sexuality. There is nothing natural about an adult man propositioning a 13 y/o girl.

[lostalex]

A far as i'm concerned 13 y/o's shouldn't even be trusted to make their own choices about what to eat for dinner (look at the childhood obesity epidemic in the UK) let alone be trusted to make their own sexual decisions with an older man.

[Cherie]

we arn't talking about kids having sex with each other , we are talking about adults having sex with kids. especially adults who are celebrities and have wealth and fame and influence on kids, and forcing themselves by various means of influence onto those children.

This has nothing to do with children's natural sexuality. There is nothing natural about an adult man propositioning a 13 y/o girl.


Very well put.

[Mystic Mock]

A far as i'm concerned 13 y/o's shouldn't even be trusted to make their own choices about what to eat for dinner (look at the childhood obesity epidemic in the UK) let alone be trusted to make their own sexual decisions with an older man.

No way, parents shouldn't force children to have dinner that they don't want, as after all what if the child didn't like the food they was given? Also it would be hypocritical of any parent to do that as they wouldn't have liked it if their parents done it to them when they was a kid.

And if the child wants to hurt their health by not eating enough Fruit and Veg then it's up to them imo.

[Cherie]

No way, parents shouldn't force children to have dinner that they don't want, as after all what if the child didn't like the food they was given? Also it would be hypocritical of any parent to do that as they wouldn't have liked it if their parents done it to them when they was a kid.

And if the child wants to hurt their health by not eating enough Fruit and Veg then it's up to them imo.

Ok Mock will hold you to that in a few years time when you have your own kids, and you have cooked a dinner for EVERYONE and one of your little darlings stamps their feet and demands McDonalds.

[lostalex]

you don't think it might be a valuable lesson to teach your 13 y/o children that you don't just eat what you like, you eat what is best for you, mockinator?

When i'm a parent, as long as i'm buying the food, that means I, and only I, have the decision in what's going on the dinner table. Zero discussion.

Does that mean my kids will never get to have treats like pizza and fast food on special occassions? no. BUt i promise you my kids won't be fat when they turn 18. After they turn 18 they can get as fat as they want. And i will love them no matter what they look like. But as long as i'm buying the food, i'm responsible for their health. I would consider myself a failure as a parent if my children were fat when they were under my care.

[Marsh.]

There is a certain level of "forcing" that must be done as a parent though.

Obviously if they genuinely don't like a certain food then they shouldn't eat it. But, like most kids, if they had the option to eat sweets, chocolate and ice cream rather than a healthy meal then they would.

So a certain level of making the child eat proper food must be done.
Obviously, a line is drawn at physically forcing the child to eat. But it's your job as a parent to teach and guide them in the right way.

[Niamh.]

No way, parents shouldn't force children to have dinner that they don't want, as after all what if the child didn't like the food they was given? Also it would be hypocritical of any parent to do that as they wouldn't have liked it if their parents done it to them when they was a kid.

And if the child wants to hurt their health by not eating enough Fruit and Veg then it's up to them imo.

For a minute there I thought it was Joeysteele posted this ^ lol I was so shocked, I breathed a sigh of relief when i realized it wasn't Joey :laugh:

But Mock seriously??? Parents have an obligation to teach their kids to eat properly and be healthy and not become obese or have high blood pressure. One of the roles of being a parent is to teach them and also to protect them, making them eat healthily is both of these things. I do hope you realize that before you have kids yourself.

[Shaun]

I often have to cook for my family and it pisses me off when they object to something :laugh: not just a parenthood problem

[Niamh.]

I often have to cook for my family and it pisses me off when they object to something :laugh: not just a parenthood problem

Yeah, well it's bloody ungrateful tbh