PAEDOPHILES FACE INTERNET CRACKDOWN

Paedophiles face Internet crackdown
06 February 2007 at 10h03

London - Convicted paedophiles may have to register their email addresses and online nicknames with policeunder new laws designed to protect children using the Internet, the British government said on Tuesday.


Keeping closer tabs
British Home Secretary John Reid said child sex offenders should have more details recorded on the Sex Offenders Register in an attempt to stop them from "grooming" children online.


"If they give us false details of their name and addressthey can be punished by up to five years in prison," Reid told Sky News. "What I want to explore is to see whether we can have the same requirement for email addresses and web identities."


A system may be developed that would detect offenders trying to use the registered details to visit websites where they could target children, he said.


Lurking in teenage chatrooms
The dangers of Internet paedophiles were highlighted thisweek when three men were jailed for conspiring to kidnap and rape two girls they hoped to meet in Internet chatrooms.


David Beavan, Alan Hedgcock and Robert Mayers used the Internet to put together their plot to kidnap the two girls, aged 13 and 14, take them to woods and rape them.


They were jailed for a total of 27 years on Monday in what police said was the first case in Britain to use cyberchat as evidence.


Under current laws, sex offenders must register their name, address and national insurance number with police within three days of conviction or release from prison.


They have to confirm their details every year and tellpolice if they plan to travel abroad for more than three days.


Officers are allowed to take a photograph or the fingerprints of sex offenders on the register. - Reuters