Government targets internet paedophiles with tougher prison sentences
2 min read
Internet paedophiles will face tougher prison sentences as part of a Government crackdown on online child porn.
Solicitor General Robert Buckland said courts would be given more powers to punish those accessing indecent images of children, calling the practice as "insidious" as direct sexual abuse.
According to official figures, only one in four convictions for child pornography results in prison time, with the rest given suspended sentences, community sentences or fines.
The Daily Telegraph says the Government is considering plans to let victims and members of the public challenge sentences.
Mr Buckland told the paper: "We have got to make sure that it's fully understood that use of the internet to download and share images of child abuse is as insidious a crime as direct sexual assault.
“I'm talking about people who are using the internet to exploit children. It's the gateway.
“It facilitates the commission of other offences, it can lead on to more horrendous crimes. People are making money out of this, children are being abused.”
Mr Buckland acknowledged that police resources were under strain, but urged forces to prioritise tackling the crime online in order to prevent further exploitation and abuse.
"Whilst I understand that police are having to deal with a large number of these cases and the analysis of hardware and software can be time-consuming, the possession and distribution of this kind of image is child abuse," he said.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Online child sexual exploitation is sickening, and offenders who take or distribute indecent images already face 10 years in prison - with record numbers given custodial sentences in 2017.
“Last year, we also made it illegal to communicate sexually with a child, and we will shortly set out further measures to protect child victims in our Victim’s Strategy.
"However, sentencing is a matter for independent judges who make decisions based on the full facts of each case.”
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
