New tough sentences for possessing ‘paedophile manuals’
6 Jun 2014 04:04 PM
People caught with
documents that contain practical advice on how to commit sexual offences
against children will face tough sentences.
So-called ‘paedophile
manuals’ will be outlawed by the creation of a new criminal offence with
a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison, Justice Minister Damian Green has
announced.
It is currently against the law
to possess indecent images of children but there is no existing offence of
possessing manuals which give advice on how to groom or abuse children
sexually.
Justice Minister Damian Green
said:
The contents of these so-called
manuals are both disgusting and deeply disturbing. Their purpose is to
facilitate sexual offending against children and we will do all we can to stop
that.
All sexual offences are
abhorrent and our laws to protect children in this area are already very robust
but we are now making absolutely sure that people caught in possession of this
material can be properly punished. They should be left in no doubt – they
will face the full force of the law.
Under the current law, it is
illegal to produce, circulate or possess with a view to distribute any indecent
photograph of a child under 18. Possession of an indecent photograph of a child
is also an offence. The Obscene Publications Act 1959 can currently be used to
prosecute people publishing paedophile manuals but not simply possessing
them.
The government plans to create
the new offence as part of the new Serious Crime Bill as soon as possible. It
is expected to come into effect next year.
Notes to
editors
The production, circulation or
possession with a view to distribute any indecent photograph of a child under
18 is an offence under the Protection of Children Act 1978. Possession of an
indecent photograph of a child is also an offence under the Criminal Justice
Act 1988.
The new offence would extend to
England & Wales.
The creation of the new offence
is the latest government move to toughen up sentences for sexual
offences.
These include an automatic life
sentence for anyone convicted of a second very serious sexual or violent
offence.
Since 2010, sex offenders are
more likely to go to prison and for longer. The average custodial sentence
length for sexual offences has increased from 49 months in 2010 to just over 59
months in 2013.
For more information, please
contact the Ministry of Justice Press Office on telephone: 020 3334
3636.