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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which countries he has had discussions to request the removal of child pornography websites; and how many such requests have been agreed. [203678] Mr. Rammell: No such requests have been made by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Where investigation by a UK law enforcement agency identifies a child abuse image being hosted in another jurisdiction, it will seek to notify the appropriate authority in that country of its presence so that they can seek its removal and take further appropriate action. similar process is also undertaken by the Internet Watch Foundation, the UK internet hotline for reporting child abuse images. Figures for the number of instances in which such requests have been made to other jurisdictions by UK law enforcement agencies are not available. We are working with our G8 partners on the development and implementation of a strategy, including projects, to improve the exchange of information to combat on-line child abuse. This work includes outreach to non-G8 partners. Since 2002, in conjunction with the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit, we have provided law enforcement agencies in 14 countries with specialised software, computers and training to detect paedophiles using internet chat rooms, and to target organised criminals who produce child pornography. In March, we co-sponsored with the National Crime Squad an international conference on the subject which was attended by 81 participants from 31 countries.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

203678; 428 c1063W;428 c1063-4W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Children Crime prevention International cooperation Internet Pornography

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk