There is whole lot a lovin' going on

Silly me, I thought it was an offence to have intercourse with girl under 16 years old. If it is an offence, then the prisons should be full.

In 2007, the rate of conception in England and Wales for underage girls increased to 8.3 per 1000 girls; up from 7.5 the previous year. The ONS estimates that 8,196 under age girls conceived last year, representing 1 in a 100 of all conceptions.

To some complacent minds, 1 in a 100 might not seem like a lot. However, the number of girls under 16 who can conceive is a comparatively small number relative to women over 16. Crudely speaking, most girls can conceive after 13, giving three available years. Women typically have 30 years to potentially conceive (16-46). I am going to take a guess and say that adjusting for the relative populations, one in ten conceptions is to a girl under 16 - ie a child.

Frankly, I don't think education is the problem here. A simple application of the law might work better. Any man over 16 who has intercourse with a child should expect to spend at least 2 years in prison. The vast majority of UK taxpayers would be happy to pay a little more to see that happen.