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Campaigners Welcome New Offence on Violent Internet Porn |
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A two and a half year campaign led by Reading mum Liz Longhurst and supported by MPs Martin Salter (Reading West) and David Lepper (Brighton Kemptown) is today celebrating the announcement by the Home Office to create a new criminal offence for the possession of violent and extreme pornographic material.
The campaign was launched in February 2004 following the death of Brighton schoolteacher Jane Longhurst in March 2003. The MPs organised a delegation from the Longhurst family to meet with the then Home Secretary David Blunkett MP. A national petition was then launched calling for extreme pornographic images featuring rape, torture and necrophilia to be treated under the law the same way as child pornography. Following further meetings with the new Home Secretary Charles Clarke MP the government launched a formal consultation in August 2005 regarding the creation of a new offence. Last November Martin Salter and David Lepper presented petitions in advance of the Home Office deadline of December 2nd for the government consultation on proposals to ban the possession of extreme pornographic material including internet images of necrophilia or violent and abusive sexual acts. Currently it is an offence to publish this material but not an offence to possess it. The campaign has attracted the support of Amnesty International, many church groups and women’s organisations and 180 MPs of all parties, including the Solicitor General, Harriet Harman MP who has been a long-time campaigner for women’s rights. Liz Longhurst said: “My daughter Sue and myself are very pleased that after 30 months of intensive campaigning we have persuaded the government to take action against these horrific internet sites which can have such a corrupting influence and glorify extreme sexual violence.” Martin Salter said: “This campaign has taken a huge amount of time and effort but it has struck a chord right across the country and our 50,000 signature petition demonstrates the strength of feeling behind the demand to plug holes in legislation created as a result of the internet. These proposals will change the law to treat violent internet pornography in the same way as child pornography. I am extremely proud of Liz Longhurst and everyone else who has worked so hard on this campaign. It is great news that the Government has not only listened but has responded to calls to outlaw access to sickening internet images which can so easily send vulnerable people over the edge.” The campaign received a financial donation from the Reading Christian Network to help pay for postage and travel costs. Amnesty International funded the production of 5000 brochures to help spread the campaign message. David Lepper MP added: “The existence of the Internet has proved an unfortunate boost to those who seek to profit from the distribution of extreme pornographic material. I am delighted that our campaign has been so successful and that the government has agreed to plug these loopholes in the law.” |
