In short
Adults.co.uk's regional guides cover what changes depending on where in the UK you live: the consent law that applies, how free sexual health services are run, and where to report scams and crime. Guides for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are published so far. Start with your own nation, then read the safety page, which covers the whole UK.
| Emergency, anywhere in the UK | 999 |
|---|---|
| Report a scam: England, Wales, NI | Report Fraud, 0300 123 2040 |
| Report a scam: Scotland | Police Scotland, 101 |
| NHS sexual health clinics | Free and confidential in all four nations; no GP referral |
Most of adult dating works the same across the UK, but a few things depend on where you live: which consent law applies, how sexual health services are organised, and who takes reports of scams and crime. If you live in Scotland, start with adult dating in Scotland, because both the law and the reporting route are different there. Otherwise, go straight to Wales or Northern Ireland.
What changes from nation to nation
Three things change at the border: the consent law, the way sexual health services are run, and where you report fraud. Everything else, from consent in practice to meeting safely, is the same.
| Item | Consent law | Report a scam | Find sexual health services | Sexual assault support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | Sexual Offences Act 2003 | Report Fraud, 0300 123 2040 | NHS website | Rape Crisis, 0808 500 2222 |
| Wales | Sexual Offences Act 2003 (shared with England) | Report Fraud, 0300 123 2040 | NHS 111 Wales | Rape Crisis, 0808 500 2222; Live Fear Free, 0808 80 10 800 |
| Scotland | Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 | Police Scotland, 101 | NHS inform | Rape Crisis Scotland, 08088 01 03 02 |
| Northern Ireland | Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 | Report Fraud, 0300 123 2040 | nidirect | The Rowan, 0800 389 4424 |
In an emergency, call 999 wherever you are. If money has already left your account, call 159 to reach your bank safely.
Nations with their own sexual offences law
- Adult dating in Scotland: how Scots law defines consent and its withdrawal, NHS sexual health through your health board, self-referral after a sexual assault, and why scams go to Police Scotland rather than Report Fraud.
- Adult dating in Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland's own consent and image-abuse laws, the free trust-run sexual health clinics, The Rowan, and the 24-hour abuse helpline.
Where the law is shared with England
- Adult dating in Wales: the consent law Wales shares with England, free home test kits from NHS Wales, the four Welsh police forces and the Live Fear Free helpline.
The same in every nation
Some things don't change at the border. Our safety and consent page covers meeting people, image abuse and who to call across the UK. Consent in adult dating explains what agreement looks like in practice, sexual health for adult daters sets out free testing, and our first meeting safety plan works wherever you live. If you're new to the site, how Adults.co.uk works explains what's free and what's paid.
Why some regions aren't listed yet
We publish a regional page only when we've checked enough genuinely local detail to make it worth reading: named services, reporting routes and anything else that is specific to that place. We don't list public places for sex, and we only list lifestyle venues once we've checked their own current information. The English regions will follow when they meet the same standard.
Questions people ask
Is the law on consent the same across the UK?
The idea is the same everywhere: free agreement that can be withdrawn at any time. The laws are separate, though. England and Wales share the Sexual Offences Act 2003, Scotland has the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, and Northern Ireland has the Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008.
Why can't I use Report Fraud in Scotland?
Report Fraud covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland only. In Scotland, fraud is reported to Police Scotland on 101, or 999 if a crime is happening now. Whichever nation you're in, call your bank on 159 first if money has already left your account.
Do I need a GP referral for an STI test anywhere in the UK?
No. NHS sexual health clinics in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are free and confidential, and you can contact them directly. Home testing kits are offered differently in each nation, which the regional pages explain.
Is there a page for my part of England?
Not yet. We publish a regional page only once we've checked enough genuinely local detail. In the meantime, the safety page and the sexual health guide cover everything that applies across England.
Sources
- Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 74, legislation.gov.uk
- Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, section 12, legislation.gov.uk
- Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, article 3, legislation.gov.uk
- Report Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre
- Police Scotland
- NHS inform (Scotland)
- NHS 111 Wales
- nidirect (Northern Ireland)
Checked 18 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.