Crackdown on web paedophiles

The British Government is considering a move to force paedophiles to register their email addresses and online identities in chatrooms in an effort to make children safer on the internet.

The proposed changes have been announced just a day after three UK men were convicted for planning the rape of two young sisters, through an internet chatroom.

Today is also international Safer Internet Day (SID), during which hundreds of schools in 40 countries are taking part in a ‘blogathon’ to raise awareness in three key areas: e-privacy, netiquette, and the power of images.

Home Secretary John Reid said the first step would be to have paedophiles enter their online details on the Sex Offenders' Register. An online alarm system would then track, or alert, authorities when they used sites popular with youngsters. Failure to register all of their online details could result in a jail sentence of up to five years.

He said: “We already have probably the toughest regime in Europe for identifying sex offenders, keeping them on a register and protecting our children on the internet. But although we are strong, we have to keep ahead of the game and I want to bring in stronger, broader powers to protect our children.”