Girls of 12 given contraceptives
Thursday 28th January 2010, 3:00PM GMT.
Brook executive director Bronia Maçon
GIRLS as young as 12 are being prescribed the ‘morning-after’ pill.
New research also reveals a connection between the increase in the number of requests for the emergency contraceptive pill and the amount of alcohol that young women are drinking at weekends.
Figures released to the JEP by health clinic Brook Jersey show that 89 per cent of requests for emergency contraception were alcohol-related.
And almost half of the morning-after pills prescribed were to girls aged 16 and under, which was a six per cent increase on the previous year.
Read the full story in the Jersey Evening Post. Click here for subscription details. Individual editions are also available online.
Travel
To, from and around the Island
Airport Arrivals/Departures
Harbours Arrivals/Departures
Bus Information/Timetables
JOIN US ON...
Facebook and Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Got a story? Get in touch
KIT 4 CLUBS
Win a share of £10,000
2012 is the year of the London Olympics and to celebrate this great event the Jersey Evening Post, in association with sponsors Ogier is giving all sporting clubs a chance to win a share of £10,000.
This is Jersey
Jersey Evening Post
Useful links
This is sick and i mean sick,
For one where are these kids getting the alcohol from, Why are the police not doing anything about it, and big one why has social services not done anything about it, There probably not bothered as usual and bury there heads in the sand.
We were told this would be sorted out through education, well its obviously not working. Do the parents not realise there kids are drunk when they get home or are they giving them the booze to get drunk with. When you say broken society, this is it in a nutshell. Jersey has the highest underage pregnancy and abortion rate in Europe due to our population size. This is sick and cant go on, its young peoples lives being ruined. Also i would like to add a point that there is a major increase in boys over the age of 18 having sex with girls as young as 13, It well known over here in a lot of groups, This is now under the classification of Rape even if the minor has given consent.
Report abuse
Clearly girls of 12 having sex is a major cause for concern but what is the alternative given that they are sexually active, deny contraception resulting in pregnancy.
It’s the lesser of 2 evils, they absolutely should not be drinking and having sex and this should be addressed as a matter of urgency, where the hell are their parents never mind blaming the police. meantime until it can be stopped they have to give contraceptives, othertwiose what, pregnant 12 year olds?
Time and again we are told that young people are out of control, it’s not social services or the police but their parents who are responsible.
Report abuse
I spent a month visiting Jesey and was at the bus station most days. The school girls had no dresses on !!!
Report abuse
Until the importance of family is once again made important, this business of undesirable behaviour amongst the young will continue.
As a one time full time mother of two girls, I was made to feel over and over again that to stay at home was opting out of a “gainful occupation” whereas I saw it as the best voction I could ever have although perhaps the most demanding. It did lead to going without some things, but what we all gained was priceless.
When I first attempted to go back to work, my years as a mother were seen as a “wildeness” period.
Many mothers would prefer to raise their children but need the income so instead of expensive nursery provision, why not pay those who want to care for their families an allowance which helps them do so and instil basic dscipline and values in their children and a sense of beng wanted BEFORE they get to the “troublesome teens”.
Much of this behaviour happens in cases of homes where family life is not important.
Why is there little tax incentive for married couples whose commitment to a relationship is statisically more stable and therefore provides a more stable environment where childrn are more likly to be wanted and nurured?
No, it is not a poliically correct opinion,but ask youself if this situation is and whether it even existed when commitment and common sense prevailed? When I was growiing up, incidently in a very committed one parent family owing to the death of my father, parents behaved like parents. Couples stayed in and not strayed from relationships. They were at home themselves most evenings or at least had someone watch their children if they went out and virtually everyone knew where their children were and cared what they were doing.
Until we as a society encourage couples who are parens to stay together, raise the opinion of Motherhood, give children the commitment to which they are entitled to from BOTH their parents, discourage easy sales of alcohol to the young, easy going attitudes to sex as a recreation for bored kids who seldom use free contracption effectively as the obvious failure to stem the demand of emergency contraception and abortion so clearly highlights, we shall continue to sink into a deeper quagmire of physically and emotionally damaged children.
As an aging society, what sort of poeple will be taking care of us if we do not give our young people the best start we can?
If parents were prosecuted for allowing under age drinking and under age sexual activity ( both of which remain against the law and had to be consulted before free contracption was handed out, more people would be more vigilant and kids would again be mindful of the consequencs.
It has to be said, life was NOT like this when I was a kid not that long ago, it was unimaginably better when we had a few parental “rules” and your Mum or Dad’s word was law.
Report abuse
This report means nothing without figures.
How many girls aged 12 have asked for the morning after pill. 2 or 2000?
Report abuse
I think it’s time we stopped blaming the authorities for the current state of society. The youth of this island are only copying what they see their parents doing. Try this for a definition…
Young people: the category of people that get the blame for a society which others have created.
Report abuse
One know side affect of the morning after pill is problems conceiving in later life.
Report abuse
89% of how many? 5? 10? 20?
How many girls of 12 are they talking about?
How many are under 16?
Lets get a real perspective on this before going ott.
Fact 100% of statistics are made up.
Report abuse
Until we stop the ‘reward culture’ by gleefully handing out cash and homes to any old chav rubbish that has a baby, then this kind of thing will keep happening. The parents obviously don’t care what their little ‘welfare tickets’ are up to, in fact they’re probably out drinking themselves.
Report abuse
What are their Mums and Dads doing…that allows this situation……early pregnancy…and next thing they want a flat and electricity,heating money to live on, a drain on social services,free health care,most not yet done a days work or contributed and we now have a social dependent for life, sitting at home being de educated by the Jeremy Kyle show…and how they quickly learn to play the system…our own collective fault for allowing it…..Grumpy old git..? probably ,but am I wrong.
Report abuse
I think James E is not in the real world. What is better, for the girls to be pregnmant or have the pill. I agree with Mulvie Le Phew.
The pill is not the problem, it helps as a solution BUT, and I suppose James E is my age (grey hair and receeding) its truly our fault as the parents of these children. Given too much too early.
Now look what you have done James!!
What do you intend to do to rectify it?
An older real Jersey Crapaud
Report abuse
Heh slow down – yes children, because that is what they are, children should not be drinking and most certainly should not be having sex but that is what society is throwing at them. I am a parent of a 15 year old girl and I can assure you that we have limits and set boundaries but (and I am assuming by your tones that you do not have ‘children’ or if you do they are grown up) no matter how hard we try we have to give some leeway to try and guide them safely into adulthood and sometimes this does not always work out as we want. Keeping them on a leash does not work! Brook work with young people and unfortunately we as parents would be the last to know if they have been given the morning after pill (if ever because there would be no pregnancy). Yes I would like to have control of that too but after ‘Gillick’ that has become near impossible. Brook is probably the safest bet for them. Yes educating them is the only way forward but did you listen to everything your peers told you. I bet not!! The scary thing about this is that it means that many young people are having sex without condoms leading to other nasty diseases which could affect them more than the morning after pill. Don’t always blame the parents for heaven’s sake we all love our children and we can only guide rather than lay down the law nowadays. We are living in a divided society and we are not able to discipline our children as my parents did with me – if I did I would be behind bars! One thing James e – if you know of groups of men having sex with young children then you must tell the police who they are! Not only is it classed as rape but they should be put on a register to keep our children safer!
Report abuse
@ cat #3
“…Why is there little tax incentive for married couples…”
Because there is no fair way of doing this practically.
But I agree that part of the answer is to enforce the laws that are already in place regarding supply of alcohol to the young, and for parents to take (whether they like it or not) full responsibility for the actions of their children.
I’d advocate a 3strike rule on young offenders, yes if you get caught doing something stupid aged 12years old you shouldn’t automatically get a record that damages your prospects later, but if you don’t learn from your mistakes and continue down a path of crime then you should forego the protection of youth in the courts, and to your public record.
Report abuse
To James e…Ever heard the slogan, ”your child, your responsibility?” How on earth are social services to blame for 12 year old girls having sex? It’s easy to blame social services or the police, but it’s not accurate or realistic.
Report abuse
I think some proper figures here would be a start, how many girls at the age of 12, how many drunk, lets get this part into context first.
And for those of you blaming parents who are on some form of benefits, this is any easy target, but it is right across all walks of life, not those who are on low incomes.
What has not been mentioned here, is it not against the law to have underage sex, let alone be drunk and is Brook not breaking the law themselves by handing out free condoms the pill, morning after pill sexual advice to children who are clearly underage from whom brook get all there details from and turn up in their school uniforms WITHOUT these children’s parents knowledge or consent. And if a parent finds out that their child is going to Brooke, they are not able to get any information as the children have rights? And where do Brook target there audience, in the schools our children go to.
Whilst agreeing Brook provide a service, but at what cost to children under the age of sixteen?
Report abuse
Blame the parents – I do. Find out where your kids REALLY are and what they are REALLY doing. Dont just phone them on their mobiles and ask them. If they are staying with friends phone their friends houses, speak to the adults they are supposed to be staying with – dont take their word for anything – children are easily lead. Parents should be responsible for their children -but in many cases it seems many just cant be bothered.
Report abuse
Where are the figures to back up the facts, and is this in the paper because someone somewhere needs a jolly and the way to get that is to put up prices of alcohol, I wished I could have been a full time mum, I’ve worked full time since my child was a tiny baby, to get money to feed a clothe us and a roof over our heads, I’m very proud of my teenager, don’t knock them they are having a hard enough time as it is, they are often misunderstood, or don’t get much love at home, trying loving them even when they shout ‘I hate you’ it really does work, I know!
Report abuse
Also, Brooke does an excellent job, they do what they can, the kids sometimes can’t talk to their parents, and if your child goes to Brooke for the morning after pill or contraceptive, ok they shouldn’t be having sex under age, but it shows consideration and maturity that they thought of going to Brooke, so don’t knock it.
Report abuse
This has nothing to do with Social Services it is down to the parents. I think it is so very sad to think of a 12 year old as sexually active however I think once again the figures are very wrong for Jersey.
Report abuse
The vast majority of parents do a first class job, they know where there child is 99% of the time. But when I send my child to school, I expect them to be at school, but how do you stop a teenager that knows everything having a quicky behind the bike shed, 30 seconds, thats all it takes(i am not blaming the schools or anyone else.)
Prehaps if brook didn’t “serve” underage kids, we wouldnt have “such” a problem. Kids now know who will bail them out when they dabble with sex – no one none the wiser except for the drunken girl – no mention of the drunken boy & Brook! There again, I was always under the impression that if a male drinks too much he suffers from this age old problem of brewers droop so may be more alcohol for the boys, problem solved.
Report abuse
Cat – whether you stay at home or go to work REALLY doesn’t matter. In fact if you’d rather look after your children than go to work you’re probably setting them up for bullying in school (due to your child not having nice clothes or gadgets) which can result in ulruly behaviour from your child as a way to get accepted into school but on the other hand if you’re a career woman then this nanny state will condem you and say your children are playing up due to lack of attention.
This is a load of BS
Everybody is responsible for their own actions whether 5, 15 or 55. If a five year old hits another child it will get told off. That child then knows its wrong so if it hits another person again it is because the child is deliberately being naughty and wants to see how far they can go. If all they get is a telling off then they’re going to keep doing it but you can’t do anything else because of these new rules. My mother used to have a set disciplinary procedure. 1st offense – telling off. 2nd offense – grounding and more chores, 3rd offense – sent to my room without any dinner and if i still carried on being naughty I would get a slap. (now you can’t even send a child to bed without social services being on the case!)
It’s easy to lie to your parents and even easier to sneak boys into your bedroom. Destroy the nanny state, bring back the fear of authority into these young people and then they may actually revert to thinking about the consequences of their actions instead of relying on the nanny state to make excuses for them.
Report abuse
Young girls should not be able to do either of these things especially at 12 !! We as adults and a society are to blame – so are the media. It’s a fine line. When I was a kid teachers where still allowed to smack in school (I’m only just in my 30′s) parents had much more control over their children because they were allowed to ! How are supposed to disapline a child if a good old clip around the ear is frowned upon and you are liable to have Child Service’s turn up at your door because of it ?? It ridiculos that parents are not allowed to disapline a child – I agree it should be limited i.e. not beating them to a pulp but and good thrashing with a wooden spoon never did us kids from the 80′s any harm did it ?? It kept us in order and we towed the line – what are we teaching kids today ? ‘If you hit me I’m going to ring Social Services and get you done..’ right o good one .. no wonder they are all running riot !
Report abuse
I would like to see a responsible policeman view this board and follow up with a visit to James E as he is aware of rape taking place and, as this has now been made public, it is the duty of the law to investigate this claim.
Report abuse
We desperately need parenting classes in our schools as part of the curriculem – however our Education Minister is fighting this tooth and nail. What further proof do we need than this?
Report abuse
And what would you all be saying if the headline was Girls at 12 getting pregnant. At least they have some knowledge to seek contraception. What these children need now is some educating. Clearly the sex education lessons in schools arn’t being given early enough, or they are simply not informative enough. In regards to the drinking, I agree they should not be drinking at all, but like others on this thread have said, what can you do to stop them? You cannot put them on a leash, but there must be some sort of control over this. Where are the kids getting it from? Where are they drinking it? Put a stop to that and you might have resolved half of the problem.
Report abuse
Hear hear to Lula and darren, Sysh – well get real we do that too! And as for Nellie Macon, I have been on a parenting class and yes it is quite an education for us adults too – guess what – it doesn’t work!! It will do for the 12 and 13 years but as girls and lads get older they have to learn!!! At 18 they are heading off to University, what do we do then!! I am fed up of people blaming the parents and Sysh you are quite wrong most of us actually enjoy being a parent and sometimes it is hardwork but we get there in the end – your parents did!! or were you a saint! Most people sparking off here obviously forget what they were like. I agree I would not be happy if my daughter got drunk or got pregnant but would not be in the same room as her at all times.
Report abuse
Has it ever occured to anyone that children this young are becoming sexually active simply because there is nothing else to do! No-one this age has anywhere to go and places they can go, like the cinema, cost a fortune. As as result kids are hanging round areas such as Les Quennevais and drinking and it is the drinking that is making these girls make the decision to have sex. Get youth centres opened up on Friday and Saturday evenings! Play some pool, play on the Wii, chat to your friends! Soemthing else to do besides sitting at home with the parents or going out and getting drunk as those are the only options right now! Brook do, however, do an amazing job and they provide councelling to and refer some of the youngest attendants. No matter how young they are they should never be refused emergency contraception and they should never feel scared to ask for it.
Report abuse
Concerned 27.
Too true, parents cannot be in the same room as their children at all times. And “Yes”, at 18 they go off to University and total freedom…but 18 is not 12.
What amazes me, is where 12 year olds get the money to buy alcohol. How much pocket-money do they get? Maybe some parents really do need ‘Parenting’ lessons, in order to get some ideas about freedom/pocket-money benchmarks.
However, ‘looking back’ helps, as the things we did, they will do…and probably worse!
So parents should know what to expect and, whilst hoping for the best must be prepared for the worst…and that’s where clinics like ‘Brook’ step in.
Report abuse
Last time I looked under age sex and under age drinking were illegal……so why is no-one being made accountable?
The government has a duty of care to it’s population and the parents are responsible.
One or both of these parties are disgracefully at fault here and it needs to be remedied urgently…..it doesn’t help that the government has helped contribute to today’s “broken” society by awarding generous benefits for single mums. This is a great incentive for them to do exactly what they re doing.
This government does not seem fit for purpose and perhaps the European Courts need to step in somehow to help protect us and our children from those who constantly ignore it all????
Report abuse
21 Lula
Well said.
Report abuse
Local kids eh? tut tut tut. We don’t ‘arf breed ‘em well over here (ma lav) Still we’ve got some great beaches, fab schools, were always first to do everything in the world, local kids always get the highest marks, the old Terry(s)in the Kremlin reckon we are the envy of the world. Think local, act local.
Report abuse
#21 I agree with BS Deluxe, well said indeed.
And ignore the troll, obviusly isn’t me with that immaturity.
Kids have MORE to do than some of us did at their age. Because my friends and I had respect for others and others’ property we were allowed to have mates round to our homes. And we didn’t have a Wii or online MPGs back then. I’ve said it before, if kids are so bored they have to cause hassle then they ought to choose much more interesting friends!
Report abuse
Most youngsters at 12,14 or so think they know it all.The fact is when they grow up they will realise that they didn’t actually know much at all and most will flinch and be a bit embarrassed at some of the things they did and said.No harm done.Others however may not be so lucky in that the damage they do to themselves at such a young age will,or could,have repercussions that will last a long time.You cannot just blame working mothers,single mothers or whatever as no-one knows the details of the backgrounds of these children but I just wish that when people become parents they would understand that at least eighteen years of their lives are not going to be their own as the kid comes first!!Obviously many people do grasp this concept and they are brilliant mums and dads but not all children are as fortunate.Thank goodness there are places like Brook but I know I wouldn’t be able to work there-I would find it depressing and frustrating so I admire the people that do such a good job in a non-judgemental way.
Report abuse
The alcohol issue gets raised again.. the little you know whats get it from their homes and people they know who are over 18..also these little corner shops are happy to sell it to make their profits boost if they can get away with it. Welcome to the 21st century where no one gives a damn.!its discusting aint it?
Report abuse
“Has it ever occured to anyone that children this young are becoming sexually active simply because there is nothing else to do!”
No, what an amazingly pathetic excuse for a complete lack of any moral guidance (from parents, school and the media).
Has it occured to you that any of these 12-year olds needing the morning-after pill have potentially caught HIV, syphilis, chlamydia? This lack of maturity among children, while copying the actions of adults, is more serious than you seem to think. Kids are no more mature than they were decades ago, if anything they are less so, they simply copy the behaviour of adults but still have no real understanding of the consequences, that’s not maturity.
Report abuse