<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> The examples and perspective in this article may not include all significant viewpoints . Please improve the article or discuss the issue . (August 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> Since the 1970s, a number of demonstrations have taken place in the United Kingdom in favour of abolishing the age of consent, in support of children's rights, gay liberationism or, more recently, "as a means to avoid unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and' bad sex' via education and health promotion". However, many have shown concern that lowering the age of consent would be "giving perverts a green light". </P> <P> In 1275, the first age of consent was set in England, at age 12 (Westminster 1 statute). In 1875, the Offences Against the Person Act raised the age to 13 in Great Britain and Ireland, and ten years later the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885 raised it to 16 . In 1917, a bill raising the age of consent in Great Britain and Ireland from 16 to 17 was defeated by only one vote . </P> <P> However, in 1950, the legislature of Northern Ireland passed the Children and Young Persons Act, which successfully raised the age of consent to 17 . Afterwards, The age of consent in Northern Ireland is 16, regardless of sexual orientation or gender, as specified by the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 . The reason the age of consent was lowered from 17 to 16 in 2008 with the Order was to bring it in line with the rest of the UK; Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins said there was no compelling reason for the age to be different in Northern Ireland than elsewhere . </P>

When was the age of consent raised to 16