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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sex with under-16s 'grey area' | Sex with under-16s 'grey area' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A chief constable has said that young men who have sex with girls aged 13 or over should not necessarily be classed as paedophiles. | A chief constable has said that young men who have sex with girls aged 13 or over should not necessarily be classed as paedophiles. |
| In a newspaper interview, Dyfed-Powys chief Terry Grange said he believed the word "paedophile" should only apply to men who have sex with prepubescents. | In a newspaper interview, Dyfed-Powys chief Terry Grange said he believed the word "paedophile" should only apply to men who have sex with prepubescents. |
| He also said the term "child pornography" should apply to images of children aged below 13. | He also said the term "child pornography" should apply to images of children aged below 13. |
| The charity Kidscape said the police chief was "on very dicey ground". | |
| Under UK law anyone who has sex with an under-16 has committed an offence. | Under UK law anyone who has sex with an under-16 has committed an offence. |
| If the child is 13 or older and consenting the offence is classed as "unlawful sexual intercourse". | If the child is 13 or older and consenting the offence is classed as "unlawful sexual intercourse". |
| But if they are under 13 the offence is rape. | But if they are under 13 the offence is rape. |
| Issue | Issue |
| Mr Grange, chief constable of Dyfed-Powys police and spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers on child protection and managing sex offenders, said his views reflected this "grey area". | Mr Grange, chief constable of Dyfed-Powys police and spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers on child protection and managing sex offenders, said his views reflected this "grey area". |
| He told the Sunday Times: "Child porn is 12 and under. For me, that sort of thing, paedophilia, is [with] prepubescent children." | He told the Sunday Times: "Child porn is 12 and under. For me, that sort of thing, paedophilia, is [with] prepubescent children." |
| "It's much more of an issue for me if a child is under 13. I think the closer they get to 16, the more it becomes a grey area and I think everyone in the field of dealing with sexual health and sexual activity acknowledges that." | "It's much more of an issue for me if a child is under 13. I think the closer they get to 16, the more it becomes a grey area and I think everyone in the field of dealing with sexual health and sexual activity acknowledges that." |
| Circumstances | Circumstances |
| Asked how he would define paedophilia, Mr Grange said: "We are talking about very young people [when] it is paedophilia, and I wouldn't want to mix up kids who are just the wrong side of 16 with paedophiles. | Asked how he would define paedophilia, Mr Grange said: "We are talking about very young people [when] it is paedophilia, and I wouldn't want to mix up kids who are just the wrong side of 16 with paedophiles. |
| "I don't actually personally adhere to the 15-year-old being with a 20-year-old boyfriend being paedophilia, or even if the boyfriend is 30." | "I don't actually personally adhere to the 15-year-old being with a 20-year-old boyfriend being paedophilia, or even if the boyfriend is 30." |
| Official government guidance on prosecuting suggests that teenagers who have sex when one of them is below 16 should not necessary be prosecuted. | Official government guidance on prosecuting suggests that teenagers who have sex when one of them is below 16 should not necessary be prosecuted. |
| Mr Grange, who stressed his views were personal, said: "You take a look at the circumstances and try to make the right decision for that case. | Mr Grange, who stressed his views were personal, said: "You take a look at the circumstances and try to make the right decision for that case. |
| "It may be nothing, it may be formal warnings, it may be prosecution." | "It may be nothing, it may be formal warnings, it may be prosecution." |
| Puberty | |
| Michelle Elliott, the director of charity Kidscape, which campaigns to keep children safe from harm or abuse, told BBC Five Live that using puberty as a guide to sexual maturity was difficult. | |
| "Girls, nine, 10 and 11 are now post-pubescent. They're wearing bras, they're having their periods. They are no longer children in his definition. | |
| "So I think he's on very dicey ground here. I think he was probably trying to bring up the teenage issue, and maybe got himself in deeper than he meant." |