80 Britons Held In Child Crackdown

[george]

80 Britons held in child porn crackdown

LONDON: More than 80 people have been arrested as officers raided homes across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, cracking down on paedophilia.

West Mercia Police have charged three men with offences relating to indecent images of children.

The others have been bailed while their computer equipment is analysed.

The arrests come just days after the Government announced new measures to ban paedophiles travelling abroad for "sex tourism".

Courts are set to be granted new powers to prevent people convicted of sexually abusing children from going to specified countries, such as Thailand, where there is a high risk they will abuse children.

The orders could be imposed on individuals if the police ask the courts to stop the offender going overseas.

The Government is also going to look at strengthening current rules on how registered sex offenders have to notify the police when they intend to travel abroad.

Home Office minister Hilary Benn said: "The UK already has some of the toughest measures in the world to deal with sex offenders."

"However, under current legislation the courts do not have the power to stop an offender who has been convicted of sexual offences against children from travelling abroad to abuse children."

"We believe this is wrong and that it should be addressed."

The Home Office's new Sexual Offences Bill places a stronger emphasis on protecting children from paedophiles and will require people who have committed sex offences abroad to go on the sex offenders register when they arrive in Britain.

--ITV 2003-11-26