{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/769050.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":769050,"attributes":{"action":"Introduce age-gap protections for 16–17-year-olds","background":"In addition to protecting those under 16, the law should introduce age-gap protections for 16–17-year-olds, allowing close-in-age relationships while preventing significantly older adults from being involved with teenagers.","additional_details":"While the age of consent is 16, there are still risks of power imbalance, influence, and vulnerability when there are large age gaps. Current laws only cover specific situations like positions of trust, leaving a gap in protection. Clear age-gap rules would better safeguard young people while still allowing normal relationships between people of similar ages.","committee_note":null,"state":"rejected","signature_count":6,"created_at":"2026-05-05T07:24:38.767Z","updated_at":"2026-05-26T11:54:47.265Z","rejected_at":"2026-05-26T11:54:45.785Z","opened_at":null,"closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-05-06T02:42:20.000Z","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 petitions, which call 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\r\n\r\nAmend age-of-consent laws to protect those under 21\r\nhttps://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/747372\r\n\r\nReview and revise age of consent in light of advances in science\r\nhttps://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/760215\r\n\r\nIncrease the age of consent to 20 with exceptions for young people 16-19\r\nhttps://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/768292"},"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}}}