UK pedophiles told to hand over email addresses

LONDON (Reuters) -
Registered child sex offenders will have
to provide their email addresses to police in a move to stop
them using social networking Web sites, the Home Office
announced on Friday.

Police will pass the addresses on to the sites which will
then be expected to monitor usage or stop offenders logging on.

Sex offenders will face up to five years in prison if they
fail to hand over the details or provide a false email.

The proposal is one of a series of measures announced by
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to make it harder for child sex
offenders to meet children online.

Another is the publication of the first UK Social
Networking Guidance which provides advice about how to stay
safe online.

Developed by representatives from the industry, charities
and law enforcement agencies, it can be used by service
providers, parents and children.

It will provide links to a range of agencies to allow users
to report issues of abuse or seek help.

She also launched a new kitemark for setting a standard for
filtering software for home computers.

"I want to see every child living their lives free from
fear, whether they are meeting friends in a youth club or in a
chat room," Smith said.

"We are working together with police, industry and
charities to create a hostile environment for sex offenders on
the Internet and are determined to make it as hard for
predators to strike online, as in the real world."

Jim Gamble, chief executive of the Child Exploitation
Online Protection Agency and The Association of Chief Police
Officers' lead on child protection and combating child abuse on
the Internet, said: "In the virtual world we offer a
one-click-away facility to every young person online.

"One click that will allow them to report virtual attacks
of a sexual nature such as grooming to specialist officers
backed up by support from organizations such as the NSPCC.

"Through the same click they can similarly access a whole
source of signposting to other sources of advice and guidance
covering a range of harm.

"This is being offered to every service provider and
through them to every young person while they are in the
virtual world. We call on them all to act now and adopt it."

(Reporting by Avril Ormsby; Editing by Steve Addison)

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