Paedophiles to be treated as terrorists under new crackdown

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/apr/27/paedophiles-treated-as-terrorists-new-crackdown

Version 0 of 1.

Paedophiles will be handed the same treatment as terrorists under a crackdown on child abuse to be included in the Queen's speech.

David Cameron said he wanted to close a loophole that allows sexual predators to produce and possess "manuals" giving tips on how to identify victims, groom them, and evade capture.

In future, they will face the same kind of sanctions as extremists who download guides to bomb-making.

The issue came to light after GCHQ and the National Crime Agency found online examples of the guides in the chaotic part of cyberspace known as the "dark web".

The prime minister told the Sunday Times: "It's completely unacceptable that there is a loophole in the law which allows paedophiles to write and distribute these disgusting documents.

"I want to ensure we do everything we can to protect children – and that's why I am making them illegal."

The new law is expected to be in force by the time of the general election next year, and could be implemented in an amendment to the Obscene Publications Act 1959, according to the newspaper.

The Terrorism Act 2000 outlawed terrorist training manuals.

The move was announced after it emerged that a paedophile teacher drugged and abused up to 60 boys as young as 10 at a British private school.

William Vahey, who taught history and geography at Southbank International School in London between 2009 and 2013, committed suicide last month as FBI agents closed in.