A survey of middle and high school students has revealed that almost a third of 14-year-old boys admit having under-age sex, and nearly half of 15-year-olds.

The poll, carried out by Teen Services, has prompted plans for more information-gathering in conjunction with Government to determine how best to tackle the issue.

The pilot survey, believed to be the first of its type in Bermuda, saw questionnaires distributed to ten schools across the Island. A total of 1,425 responses from students aged 11 to 18 were returned to Teen Services.

The students were questioned on a range of topics, including whether they were sexually active, and whether they could have positive discussions about the subject of sex with their parents.

As reported earlier this month, three percent of the students aged 11 who responded admitted that they were having sex. Of these, just one percent of the girls were using contraceptives and none of the boys said they used a condom.

Further results released by Teen Services this week showed that of the 12-year-olds polled, one percent of the girls were sexually active, and 12 percent of the boys.

Of the 14-year-olds questioned, 13 percent of the girls said that they were having sex, and 30 percent of the boys. This rose to 30 percent of 15-year-old girls and 46 percent of the boys.

The students were also asked whether they were able to have a helpful conversation about sex with their parents or guardians. At 11 years old, 41 percent of the girls answered yes, and 45 percent of boys. At 12, 38 percent of girls said yes, and 54 percent of the boys.

When questioned on whether they had received health, sexuality and education classes in school, 57 percent of 11-year-olds said yes, rising to 90 percent of 14-year-olds.

Michelle Wade, director of Teen Services, said the statistics caused deep concern. The organisation, which helps teenage mothers and promotes sex education is now preparing a more in-depth survey to be conducted in April.

?If we are to find out what?s really going on, we need to take these surveys seriously and so we are moving it up a notch by getting the Department of Statistics to assist us with the 2006 survey,? she explained.

?Under 16 there?s a criminal element and we need to know who the partners are, what the legal ramifications are, and what else we can do.

?What we are providing might not be addressing the problem as we want to provide the service that is really needed for our young people.?

Ms Wade said that although Teen Services, school staff, and doctors are legally obliged to inform Child and Family Services if they receive information that an under-16 is sexually active, the situation often only comes to light when a girl falls pregnant.

She added that besides agencies working together to address the issue, parents need to take responsibility for educating their children, and she hopeD that the Bermuda arm of the US National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 3 will help spread the message.

Det. Sgt. Mark Clarke, head of the Bermuda Police Juvenile and Domestic Crime Unit said that all reports of suspected under-age sex are investigated. Once information has been gathered, a decision is made on whether the case should be treated as a criminal matter or referred back to other agencies to deal with as a social issue.

?There is an issue of consent, and while we investigate everything and treat it seriously, if we found for instance that two 15-year-olds are involved in consensual sex it?s more of a question for Child and Family Services,? he said.

?The younger the girl is and the older the boy is, the less the issue of consent is as that crosses the line into the area of abuse and predatory behaviour.?

Det. Sgt. Clarke said it is important for more information about the consequences of under-age sex as well as contraceptives and sexually transmitted diseases to be made available to the Island?s youngsters.

?While the Police investigate crime we are also concerned when it comes to choices and in order to make appropriate choices the key is education,? he said.

?We cannot ignore the discussions surrounding sexual issues, that is not realistic. Telling teenagers not to have sex doesn?t help them to protect themselves. Education never hurt anybody. The key is to get them to talk to us. Adults tend to talk to our young people, not with them, and shouldn?t wait for them to get into trouble before they run to us.?

Martha Dismont, executive director of the Family Centre welcomed news that Teen Services plans to conduct more research. In particular she called for more information on what age the sexual partners of the teenagers are and where the sexual encounters are occurring.

Mrs. Dismont believes that a clear set of values, in the form of a ?national plan for parents? should be established so the community can work together to address the issue.