Guernsey 'attitudes have changed' over age of consent

Deputy Steere put forward the move to reduce the age in 1999

Attitudes towards lowering the age of consent for gay people in Guernsey have changed over the last decade, says the deputy who was behind previous moves.

The States are set to debate whether to reduce it to 16 later this month.

Deputy Carol Steere, who put forward a move to lower the age in 1999, said she was "delighted, but disappointed it had taken so long".

She thinks the debate will be more low key this time as attitudes had changed and society had become more tolerant.

In 1999 Deputy Steere, then a conseiller, put forward a move to reduce the age of consent from 21 to 16.

It proved controversial and in the end deputies voted to lower it to 18.

It is back on the agenda for the meeting starting on 24 March, as the Home department has put forward the proposals to make the age of consent for heterosexuals and homosexuals equal at 16.