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Thousands of underage children have caught sexually transmitted infections, shock figures reveal.

More than 15,000 under-16s were diagnosed with diseases including gonorrhoea, chlamydia and genital herpes in the last three years.

Around 200 were aged 12 or younger, the Daily Mirror investigation found.

The number of children aged under 16 with STIs nearly doubled in the last 10 years – and there are fears the situation could be worse because many boys do not get tested.

Campaigners last night blamed politicians for failing to make sex education compulsory.

Lisa Powers, policy director at the Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “We are suffering in this country from poor sexual health.

"This is partly down to the fact that we have had generations of people who have not had sex and relationships education in school.

“Young people are under more pressure than ever before because they do not just learn about sex in the playground, but also on the internet.”

She added: “Young people are not being taught about the dangers of having sex without a condom.”

Lucy Emmerson, co-ordinator at the Sex Education Forum, added: “Young people are not getting the sex education they need.

"We simply cannot go on like this. Some schools are providing excellent sex and relationships education, but others are not.

“We need to ensure all children have access to sexual health information that can help them make the right choices.”

The Health Protection Agency figures, obtained by the Mirror under the Freedom of Information Act, revealed 13 children aged under 16 are diagnosed with STIs every single day.

The number of children aged under 16 with STIs spiralled by 93% from 2,474 in 2003 to 4,777 in 2011.

Infections contracted included chlamydia, gonorrhoea, genital herpes, genital warts, chancroid and lymphogranuloma venereum.

Between 2009 and 2011 a disturbing 177 children aged 12 or younger were diagnosed with STIs.

Experts said STIs caught by children aged under 13 may indicate sexual abuse so social services are brought in.

The HPA said: “Guidance for health professionals is that any case involving a child aged under 13 should be initially discussed with the child protection lead in the organisation.”

Of 15,342 youngsters diagnosed with STIs between 2009 and 2011, 10,439 had chlamydia. The infection can cause infertility if left untreated.

The figures also revealed girls were six times more likely to be diagnosed with STIs than boys.

But Simon Blake, chief executive of young people’s sexual health charity Brook said: “Girls are far more likely to access services at which STI testing is an option.”

Norman Wells, of the Family Education Trust, said the STI problem could be blamed on the increasingly casual attitude to underage sex in society as a whole.

He said: “We are paying a high price for turning a blind eye to the law on the age of consent which is intended to protect children under the age of 16.

“This underlines the failure of the so-called safe sex message promoted in the majority of schools and Government-funded sexual health initiatives.

“Far from improving the sexual health of the young, providing under-16s with easy access to contraception behind their parents’ backs has only seen the problem go further down the age range.”

Sex education classes won't be made compulsory

(Image: PA)

CAMPAIGNERS have blasted the Government for refusing to make sex education a compulsory subject.

After a review into Personal, Social, Health and Economic education, Education and Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss yesterday ruled it was up to schools to decide what was taught.

She added: “Teachers are best placed to understand the needs of their pupils and do not need additional central prescription.”

But the Family Planning Association said this was a dangerous gamble.

Spokeswoman Nikita Hall added: “If young people are to avoid getting STIs, they need information and ­relationship negotiating skills.

"The danger of this approach is that sex education will merely be paid lip service and young people will not get the information they need.”

The National Aids Trust attacked the Government’s “lack of commitment”.

Chief Deborah Jack said: “Good quality sex and relationships education should be statuary in all schools.”

We must educate our kids: By Simon Blake OBE, chief executive of Brook

I WISH we could have prevented every one of these sexually-transmitted infections.

Greater testing has increased the number that we are aware of and we must work harder than ever to protect children.

Firstly, we must make sure they are educated about sex at school and at home.

This will give them confidence and an understanding of boundaries and consent.

They need to know to delay sex until they feel ready and to speak up when they feel frightened or vulnerable.

Secondly, if young people are sexually active, we must help them to access confidential, non-judgemental services they can trust.

If they do not trust a service, they will not ask for help and they will become even more vulnerable.

Finally, we must adopt a more open attitude to discussing sex and STIs.

Many adults find it difficult to talk to youngsters about sex, but we must overcome this to protect them.

It is not surprising the figures for girls are higher. Girls are more likely to use services where STI tests are available.

Don’t forget, most under-16s have not had sex. Educating them before they do has never been more important.