NEVER mind that they know little about the birds and the bees, teenage girls here are still going ahead with the deed - and in larger numbers as well.

The latest police figures show that 310 teenage girls below the age of 16 were caught engaging in underage consensual sex last year - nearly 45per cent more than the year before.

Put against the number from five years ago - 163 - the jump is even starker.

Most of the time, their parents or teachers report them to the police; police officers on patrol have also caught them in the act.

The police say that most of the time, these girls are with men known to them, usually their boyfriends or friends. In most cases, these boys are also teenagers, though they are sometimes in their 20s or even 30s.

In the eyes of the law, girls aged between 12 and 14 are considered victims of statutory rape. Cases involving girls below the age of 12 are investigated as rape.

Offenders can be jailed for up to 20 years, and fined or caned.

Under the Women's Charter, sex with a girl aged above 14 but below 16 is termed 'carnal connection'.

If found guilty, offenders can be jailed for up to five years and fined up to $10,000 for this crime.

While females are the majority of victims in underage sex cases here, the law has been amended to protect males as well.

Last October, a 32-year-old former teacher became the first woman here to be charged with having sex with a minor, a 15-year-old boy.

Not only are the rising numbers worrying, youth counsellors say it also appears that teenagers are being initiated into sex earlier.

Read the full report in Monday's edition in The Straits Times.