Drop age of consent to 14, says academic
Dr Matthew Waites, a lecturer in sociology at Glasgow University, said criminalising all consensual sexual activity up to 16 was not appropriate.
For 16 out of 17 of the wealthiest countries with the data, between 15 per cent and 28 per cent of young people had had sex by the age of 15. For the UK, the figure was 40 per cent.
"The minimum age for sexual activity should be lowered to 14 but supplemented by an 'age span' provision where people aged 14 and 15 would only be able to have sexual activity with a person less than two years older, until 16."
Supporters of Dr Waites's position point out that when a teenager's hormones are raging, knowing the age of consent is not a top priority.
He added: "To suggest that teenagers are at the mercy of their hormones demonstrates a failure to respect them as rational and responsible people."