Internet Child Pornography (Hansard, 15 March 2004)

§ Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The Government continue to work, through the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet, with law enforcement, industry and children's organisations on considering what action can be taken in respect of restricting access to child abuse images.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) provides a focal point for reporting material which appears to be illegal. They assess the material and refer any they agree appears illegal to the police for investigation. Where an illegal image is on a website hosted by a UK Internet service provider and they are notified of this fact, they have an excellent record in removing the offending material. Less than 1 per cent of child abuse content reported to the IWF is hosted in the UK. Where the material is produced or hosted outside the UK, arrangements exist for notifying the relevant law enforcement agency and Internet service providers concerned.

While the Internet has increased the transmission and exchange of images of child abuse, it has also provided a valuable opportunity to identify, prosecute, and treat a significant group of child abusers who might never otherwise have come to our attention. This has resulted in a generally increasing numbers of investigations and prosecutions for the making and possession of indecent images of children in recent years.

In respect of Operation Ore, I understand that of approximately 6,000 suspects being investigated, to date there have been 1,202 individuals charged and 655 convictions. It is not possible to predict how many more individuals will be prosecuted in the next 12 months.