{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/768178.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":768178,"attributes":{"action":"Close legal gap allowing adults to have sex with 16–17-year-olds","background":"Introduce legislation to close legal loopholes that allow adults to engage in sexual relationships with 16–17-year-olds. Close the  legal gap allowing adults to have sex with 16–17-year-olds. 30 year olds should not legally be able to have sexual relationships with under 18s.","additional_details":"Although the age of consent is 16, current laws do not adequately protect young people from exploitation by significantly older adults. This gap can leave 16–17-year-olds vulnerable to grooming, coercion, and abuse. Close the gap by ensuring that it is a criminal offence if an adult aged 20 or over engages in sexual activity with a 16–17-year-old where there is a substantial age difference (for example, more than 4 years).","committee_note":null,"state":"rejected","signature_count":21,"created_at":"2026-04-23T17:32:19.347Z","updated_at":"2026-05-19T11:18:40.006Z","rejected_at":"2026-05-19T11:18:40.008Z","opened_at":null,"closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-04-23T18:26:30.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":{"code":"duplicate","details":"You may wish to sign the following petition, which calls for similar action:\r\n\r\nRaise the age of consent to 18 with peer exception for 16-17 year olds\r\nhttps://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/767458"},"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}}}