- Teachers in the UK will not be legally required to report consensual sexual activity between teenagers if certain conditions are met, under a new clause in the Crime and Policing Bill.
- This "Romeo and Juliet" exemption aims to avoid criminalising consensual underage relationships where there is no coercion, significant age gap, or maturity difference.
- The age of consent in the UK is 16, but unlike in other countries, there is no exemption for sexual activity between under-18s, even when the two are in a consensual relationship.
- The clause gives teachers discretion in reporting such relationships, provided both individuals are over 13 and there are no concerns about abuse.
- The exemption seeks to balance child protection with the need for young people to feel comfortable seeking support and advice, without fear of mandatory reporting.
IN FULL
Teachers exempt from reporting teenage sex under ‘Romeo and Juliet’ clause
