Dude, it's a criminal offence to steal. It's a criminal offence to rape. It's a criminal offence for so many things, and in no way does that ever deter people, does it?

Stricter sentences just don't work beyond a certain point.

OK, that's pretty damn funny.

If your comment was not intended as a joke, I am sorry but I am sure you must have realised that if I was saying the age of consent should be 18 then the age for marriage would also be 18 (as for example in the Philippines). Remember in the UK until, I believe, 1970 the age of majority was 21.

Couples could be married at 16 with parental consent or go to Gretna Green and marry without it.

How do you know, they have not been tried in UK ?

Look at Singapore and other countries with 'deterrent sentences' very low crime rates.

It is no coincidence that as sentences in UK have reduced crime has increased. When there was capital punishment there were about 50 murders a year in UK, now its around 700.

OK. The way your proposed change is worded though would mean no more kissing and cuddling behind the bike sheds and lads would not even be allowed to have a quick, ahem, Jodrell.

Not a chance.

Sex is an entirely natural and wonderful activity. You have not got a hope in hell of stopping two unmarried 16 - 18 year old enjoying each other's (or even their own) bodies. You would have just as much success as trying to stop them eating.

I dont know bill.did you ever hear of someone stealing the Kray twins car radio
The punishment far outweighed the gain not the other way around as it is today.

16 and 17 what late starters by todays standards

Like it! No, I didn't, but I bet we have someone here that could tell us all about it.

You certainly wouldn't throw your chewing gum on the floor there!

OK if that's the way you choose to read it but I did not say that. I was expressing my concern that under the present law in Spain there is NO PROTECTION for girls aged 13 to 16 from becoming the target of those, who in UK are considered paedophiles. If you think they should not be protected, I am surprised but I don't know you.

I dont know what the big deal is. Providing two people are capable, physically old enough and consenting - what does it matter if they're 14 or 114? and what business is it of anyone else???

Jo xxx

Post the stats please?

Of course, it would have nothing to do with the fact that the world now is very, very different? Plus I am sure that you would be the foirst to guarantee 100% that each death penalty was deserved, and an innocent man never went to jail..etc etc etc etc.

America has very strict sentances, and stricter treatment of prisoners. All it means is that the Yanks have more and bigger jails all filled to bursting.

Spot on, with the proviso that you keep post and pre 16s apart.

So, what do we do? Bring back flogging, amputation for theft, up the sentances, build more jails, fill them with recidivists, becuase the harder the punishment, the more likely they are to reoffend.

Have any of the bright sparks who think this way ever asked themselves why every year in the stricter Islamic countries, there are STILL amputations and floggings?

Doesn't stop them all there either.