{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/768292.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":768292,"attributes":{"action":"Increase the age of consent to 20 with exceptions for young people 16-19","background":"The age of consent should be raised to 20, to protect young people. There should be a clause so that those aged 16-19 are not criminalised for having consensual sex below the age of consent.","additional_details":"Our current age of consent law allows for an adult, of any age, to have sex with a 16 year old, however a 16 year old is still considered a child by law. This law leaves young people vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Raising the age of consent to 20 will protect young people, while having a clause so that they are not criminalised will allow them to have consensual, age appropriate sex.","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":24,"closing_date":"2026-11-21","created_at":"2026-04-24T22:12:53.116Z","updated_at":"2026-06-05T05:10:00.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-05-21T16:56:13.089Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-04-25T11:30:40.000Z","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":"Helen Boxall","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"HO","name":"Home Office","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":24}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Barnsley North","ons_code":"E14001074","mp":"Dan Jarvis MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Bath","ons_code":"E14001080","mp":"Wera Hobhouse MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Bermondsey and Old Southwark","ons_code":"E14001085","mp":"Neil Coyle MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Blackley and Middleton South","ons_code":"E14001103","mp":"Graham Stringer MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Brent West","ons_code":"E14001123","mp":"Barry Gardiner MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Cannock Chase","ons_code":"E14001150","mp":"Josh Newbury MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Chesterfield","ons_code":"E14001165","mp":"Mr Toby Perkins MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Croydon West","ons_code":"E14001188","mp":"Sarah Jones MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Didcot and Wantage","ons_code":"E14001197","mp":"Olly Glover MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Ellesmere Port and Bromborough","ons_code":"E14001222","mp":"Justin Madders MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Lincoln","ons_code":"E14001336","mp":"Mr Hamish Falconer MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Macclesfield","ons_code":"E14001347","mp":"Tim Roca MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Mid Dorset and North Poole","ons_code":"E14001363","mp":"Vikki Slade MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Rochdale","ons_code":"E14001446","mp":"Paul Waugh MP","signature_count":3},{"name":"Salford","ons_code":"E14001459","mp":"Rebecca Long Bailey MP","signature_count":3},{"name":"Shrewsbury","ons_code":"E14001473","mp":"Julia Buckley MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Sittingbourne and Sheppey","ons_code":"E14001474","mp":"Kevin McKenna MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Weald of Kent","ons_code":"E14001570","mp":"Katie Lam MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Dundee Central","ons_code":"S14000075","mp":"Chris Law MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":9},{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":2},{"name":"West Midlands","ons_code":"F","signature_count":2},{"name":"London","ons_code":"H","signature_count":3},{"name":"South East","ons_code":"J","signature_count":3},{"name":"South West","ons_code":"K","signature_count":3},{"name":"Scotland","ons_code":"M","signature_count":1}],"other_parliamentary_business":[]}}}