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Family Solicitors

Government to block legal loophole allowing download of child abuse materials (28 April 2014)

Date: 28/04/2014
Duncan Lewis, Family Solicitors, Government to block legal loophole allowing download of child abuse materials

The government has announced that it will close a loophole in the laws governing child abuse, which would in effect allow paedophiles who download child abuse manuals to be treated in the same way terrorists are.

An amendment to the Obscene Publications Act 1959 would make it a crime to download online guides which advise on how to sexually abuse children.

The National Crime Agency and GCHQ has found child abuse manuals on the “dark web” – a hidden area of the Internet which offers those who know how to access it materials such as hardcore porn and child abuse materials, as well as drugs, terrorism and arms dealing websites.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that the Prime Minister will include the amendment to the Obscene Publications Act in the next Queen’s Speech.

The change means that manuals advising on how to abuse children would in the future be treated in the same way as materials available online on the dark web offering instruction in terrorism.

Currently, any individual who writes and publishes or distributes materials which offer instruction on how to abuse children cannot be prosecuted.

Several high-profile cases have highlighted the issue of access to child abuse materials online, as well as the abuse of children by persons in a position of trust, such as teachers and public figures.

Last week, it emerged that an American teacher William James Vahey had abused up to 60 children while working as a teacher at London’s Southbank International School between 2009 and 2013.

In March, Vahey killed himself when he realised the FBI was getting close to arresting him.

The backlash over the Jimmy Savile inquiry Operation Yewtree, which has uncovered a catalogue of child abuse by the late presenter – and the ongoing pubic furore over child abuse by Roman Catholic priests – have both recently highlighted the issue of child abuse in Britain.

Mr Cameron called the current loophole in Britain’s laws regarding child abuse literature “unacceptable”. He told The Sunday Telegraph:

"It's completely unacceptable that there is a loophole in the law which allows paedophiles to write and distribute these disgusting documents.

“I want to ensure we do everything we can to protect children – and that's why I am making them illegal."

In recent years, the government has also strengthened protection for young adults aged 18 and under who are facing domestic violence in the family, including non violent control such as abusive language used to intimidate or belittle children – or incidences of forced marriage in the UK, involving minors aged 16-18.

Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of family and children law solicitors and can advise on issues such as domestic violence and child abuse.

Duncan Lewis is also one of the leading providers of Legal Aid in the UK and can advise on family and childcare matters under UK law or Islamic law.

For expert legal advice on domestic violence or child abuse, contact Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors Emergency Helpline on 07920 077054.


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