This petition is put in place to increase the legal age that a child can leave home. Children can at present leave home at 16 years of age, without their parents consent. Children in these circumstances can seek housing from the local authorities which can result in children/teenagers disrespecting the rules put in place at home, undermining the parents efforts to impose discipline. Children may then be place within establishments such as the YMCA and learn negative life skills, create babies, spread STI's and cost the government millions in benefits, hospital care, drug rehabillitation etc. If laws were changed and the legal age where inreased to 18, it would enable parents to do their job and discipline their child. Children seem to have more rights that their parents yet Social services although will endeavour to find a home for a young person under 18 they do not take full responsibility for him/her, ensuring that the child attends college, is fed, etc.

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