Child pornography and sexual offences against children - correlation
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government: What correlations they have found between individuals with access to child pornography and offences of sexual abuse of children, whether in the United Kingdom or overseas.
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: People who sexually abuse children are often found to be in possession of indecent images of children. There is evidence to suggest that child pornography can be used in an attempt to legitimise their sexual activities with children and to "groom" or encourage compliance from their victims. However, we are not currently aware of any evidence to support a direct causal link between access to child pornography and the commission of sexual offences against children.
Source: Hansard 11.3.4
Page Created: Mon, September 20th, 2004
Page Modified: Fri, September 24th, 2004
