Mandatory jail time for online paedophiles like Huw Edwards will be considered in new review into sentencing
MANDATORY jail time for online paedophiles such as Huw Edwards will be considered in a new review into sentencing.
There are fears at the very top of Government that perverts sharing the worst child sex abuse pictures have been treated too leniently.
The Sun has launched a Keep Our Kids Safe campaign demanding all sickos convicted of viewing Category A images are jailed.
Eight in ten convicted over child abuse images avoid jail with watered-down sentencing guidelines, the National Crime Agency says.
The review will consider strengthening the punishment for such offences against kids.
It follows a public outcry after ex-BBC presenter Edwards walked free with a suspended sentence.
Our recent investigation laid bare how a group behind one million pictures had also dodged prison.
A senior government source has confirmed this will be looked at in the sentencing review.
It will be “in scope” for the planned overhaul by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood that begins next month.
A crackdown on social media firms where the sick content is shared is also expected.
STILL MORE TO DO
THIS review of sentencing guidelines, which will include punishments for those downloading and sharing images of child sexual exploitation, is long overdue.
Judges need to come down on the offenders like a ton of bricks.
People forget that these are children who are being raped or abused.
It is not just a picture.
It is great that Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, has responded to The Sun’s Keep Our Kids Safe campaign.
More resources should be put into tracking down offenders sharing child sex images.
We also need to keep paedophiles on the sex offenders register for life.