Internet Watch Foundation

 

Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action his Department is taking to tackle the pornographic exploitation of children on the internet.

 

Paul Goggins: The Government is determined to reduce availability of child pornography on the internet and to deal with those people who use such images. Within the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet we work with partners in industry, the law enforcement agencies and children's charities in order to improve technical and legal methods of addressing this problem as well as promote public awareness. We are also working with our international partners in the G8 and the ED to the same end. Achievements so far include increased police resources, higher criminal penalties for use of and trading in indecent photographs of children, and new offences in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 dealing with people who act so as to involve children in pornography. Additionally, the National Crime Squad of England and Waleshave embarked on a global initiative with partner countries currently comprising Canada, USAand Australia, as well as Interpol, to establish new ways of combating and reducing child abuse on line.

 

Source: Hansard 23.3.4