Rights at 16+

Your rights at 16+ - at a glance

At age 16, you can:

• Leave home and live independently
• Claim social security benefits (if you are eligible for them)
• Work full-time if you have officially left school (you will also pay tax on your earnings)
• Be paid the Minimum Wage
• Get married with your parents or carers consent
• Join the Armed Forces
• Legally have sex (Both boys and girls must be over 16 before they can legally have sex. A male may consent to a homosexual act if he and his partner are aged 16 or above)
• Ride a moped of up to 50ccs
• Have an abortion without parental consent
• Apply for your own passport
• Pilot a glider

At age 17, you can (see also the rights from age 16):

• Hold a licence to drive most vehicles (a car, a motorcycle, a large tractor and vans or lorries up to 3.5 tons)
• Pilot a plane
• Emigrate

Also at age 17, a care order can no longer be made on you.

At age 18

You are considered an adult in the eyes of the law and can:

• Vote in general and local elections
• Buy cigarettes and tobacco
• Buy alcohol - in a shop, off-license or bar
• Get married (without your parents' or carers' consent)
• Get a tattoo on your body
• Change your name
• Drive vans or lorries up to 7.5 tons
• Serve on a jury
• Sue or be sued
• Open a bank account without a parent or carers signature
• Ask to see your birth certificate if you are adopted
• Place a bet

Dealing with the police

If you are stopped in the street by the police, it may be that they suspect you have done something illegal or are about to do something illegal.

If you are stopped, the police must tell you:

• Their name
• The station where they are based
• Why they have stopped you

You must give your name and address, but you don't have to answer any legal questions until you have had legal advice.

If you're under 17:

You can't be questioned at a police station without a parent or carer being there. If your parent or carer can't be present, there must be an 'appropriate adult', such as a family friend or relative

See the Connexions Direct 'Your Rights' section for more info.

Contacts

Citizens Advice Bureau

Confidential advice on a range of issues, including legal matters

Community Legal Service

For help and information on a range of legal issues and information about local lawyers and advice centres
Tel: 0845 608 1122
Textphone: 0845 606 677
(information on the website is also available in Welsh, Urdu, Chinese, Bengali, Gujarati and Punjabi)

Crimestoppers

An independent charity dedicated to preventing and solving crimes
Tel: 0800 555 111 (This is a freephone number you can use to give information about any crime in the UK. Information can be given anonymously, which means you will never have to give your name or address, make a statement or go to court.)

Disability Law Service

Provides free and confidential legal advice to people with disabilities, their families and carers
Tel: 020 7791 9800
Minicom: 020 7791 9801
e-mail:advice@dls.org.uk

NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)

Confidential advice and counselling, available 24 hours a day
Tel: 0808 800 5000
Textphone: 0800 056 0566
Asian Helpline: 0800 096 7719 (for information in Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu)
e-mail:help@nspcc.org.uk
(The web site is designed especially for young people, with confidential advice on all sorts of issues, from bullying to drugs or problems at home) alternatively, try www.nspcc.org.uk

Victim Support

National charity that helps people affected by crime Tel: 0845 30 30 900 (Victim Supportline can also put you in contact with your local Witness Service) Minicom: 020 7896 3776 e-mail:supportline@victimsupport.org.uk

West Midlands Police

Tel: 0845 113 5000 (Central Switchboard; can connect you to local stations)