Decriminalisation is the process of making an act or omission no longer illegal. This often occurs following a change in social attitudes towards an activity which leads to pressure to decriminalise the act. For example, until 1967 homosexuality was classed as illegal in the UK and males were punished under the law for being in relationships with other men. As a result of changing attitudes towards sexuality, homosexuality was decriminalised in 1967, although the age of consent was 21, which was higher than that of heterosexual sex (16).