Foyle MP Mark Durkan supporting the NSPCC’s “Flaw in the Law” campaign at Westminster.
The people of Derry havc been called on support a campaign aimed at bringing a change in the law which will make it illegal for adults to send sexual messages to children.
The call comes from Foyle SDLP Mark Durkan who is supporting the NSPCC’s (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children} “Flaw in the Law” campaign.
The campaign follows the NSPCC identifying a gap in the law which needs to be rectified in order to properly protect children from online sexual abuse.
Drawing on legislation already passed in Scotland in 2009, the charity proposes using the Serious Crime Bill currently going through the British Parliament to ensure the law is changed.
Speaking from Westminster, Mr Durkan said: “Currently, it is not an offence for someone over 18 to send a child under 16 a sex text, email or instant message.
“Significantly, legislation covering this predates the widespread use of the internet and in particular social networking sites.
“I therefore fully support the NSPCC’s ‘Flaw in the Law’ campaign which aims to make it always illegal for an adult to send a sexual message to a child.”
Mr Durkan urged people in Derry and throughout the North to support the proposed change in the law by signing the NSPCC’s “Flaw in the Law’”e-petition at http://www.nspcc.org.uk/fighting-for-childhood/campaigns/flaw-law/
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