Know the law
Age of Consent in the UK: The Law in Plain English
It is 16 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and 18 to use this site.
The age of consent is 16 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, set by three separate laws. Consent must also be given by choice, with the freedom and capacity to make it. Adults on Local Sex Meets must be 18 or over. This is general information; a solicitor can advise on your own situation.
Is the age of consent 16 across the UK?
Yes, though each nation has its own law. Laws get amended, so check the current text before you rely on a section number.
| Where | Age | The law |
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | 16 | Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 9 |
| Scotland | 16 | Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, section 28 |
| Northern Ireland | 16 | Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, article 16 |
The 2003 Act speaks of children under 16; ‘age of consent’ is the everyday phrase. Section 9 makes it an offence for an adult to touch a child sexually if the child is under 16 and the adult does not reasonably believe they are 16 or over, or if the child is under 13. Scotland’s section 28 is about intercourse with an older child, meaning 13 or over but not yet 16. Northern Ireland’s article 16 has the same shape as section 9.
Don’t treat that ‘reasonable belief’ wording as a loophole. If anything about someone’s age feels off, stop.
Positions of trust: someone aged 18 or over in a position of trust over a person under 18 commits an offence by sexual activity with them. See sections 16 to 24 of the 2003 Act, section 42 of the Scottish Act and article 23 of the Northern Ireland Order.
What does consent mean in UK law?
- England and Wales
- Section 74 of the 2003 Act defines consent as agreeing by choice, with both the freedom and the capacity to make that choice.
- Northern Ireland
- Article 3 of the 2008 Order uses the same words as section 74.
- Scotland
- The 2009 Act defines consent as agreement freely given (section 12). Section 13 lists when it is absent, including incapacity through alcohol or another substance, violence or threats, and deception about the nature or purpose of the conduct.
Scotland’s rape offence, in section 1, treats an act as continuing from the point where consent is withdrawn. The Crown Prosecution Service, for England and Wales, says people can agree on conditions, such as wearing a condom, and can withdraw consent at any time. Consent and casual sex covers how that works on a date.
Why does this site say 18 and over?
- Sixteen is where these laws draw the line for sexual activity with a child. It is not the age for adult sites.
- Local Sex Meets members must be at least 18 under the site’s terms.
- The site estimates each member’s age automatically and adds further checks wherever the law requires them.
- A stated age on a profile is a claim, not proof, so weigh it against everything else you notice.
What if you doubt someone’s age?
Do
- Stop the chat and don’t arrange to meet.
- Block the profile, then report it.
- Tell support, which answers by chat and messaging around the clock.
- Contact the police if you think a child is at risk, and call 999 in an emergency.
Skip
- Carrying on until you are sure.
- Meeting up to find out.
- Treating a stated age as settled when everything else points the other way.
If something happened that you did not agree to, the support lines in meeting for sex safely are the place to start. The safety page shows the site’s own tools.
Questions about the age of consent
At what age can you legally have sex in the UK?
The age of consent is 16 in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, under three separate laws: the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 and the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008. Separate rules on positions of trust protect people up to 18.
Is the age of consent different in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
No. Both set the line at 16, though each is a separate law. Scotland’s 2009 Act deals with a child aged 13 to 15 in section 28, and Northern Ireland’s 2008 Order follows the England and Wales structure in article 16.
What counts as consent in UK law?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, consent means agreeing by choice, with both the freedom and the capacity to make that choice. Scotland’s 2009 Act defines consent as agreement freely given, and lists situations, such as incapacity through alcohol, where it is absent.
What is a position of trust?
Someone aged 18 or over in a position of trust in relation to a person under 18, for example in care, detention, health or school settings, commits an offence by sexual activity with them. The rules sit in sections 16 to 24 of the 2003 Act, section 42 of the Scottish Act and article 23 of the Northern Ireland Order.
Can under-18s use Local Sex Meets?
No. Members must be at least 18 under the site’s terms. Sixteen is the age of consent in law, but it is not the age for adult sites. Age estimation runs automatically, with extra checks where the law requires them.
Sources and dates
- Sexual Offences Act 2003 (sections 9, 16 to 24 and 74), Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 (sections 1, 12, 13, 28 and 42) and Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (articles 3, 16 and 23), latest revised versions read on the UK legislation website on 2 and 3 November 2026.
- Crown Prosecution Service, What is consent? (undated).
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