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| Child sex abuse live streams loophole to be closed | Child sex abuse live streams loophole to be closed |
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| The UK's government aims to tackle the spread of child sexual abuse imagery online by closing a legal loophole. | The UK's government aims to tackle the spread of child sexual abuse imagery online by closing a legal loophole. |
| It has proposed that live video streams of abuse should be punished in the same way that recorded clips already are. | It has proposed that live video streams of abuse should be punished in the same way that recorded clips already are. |
| It would mean that people who broadcast such footage would face up to 14 years in jail. | It would mean that people who broadcast such footage would face up to 14 years in jail. |
| In the past, offenders have sometimes been given lighter sentences if the authorities could not prove a recording was made. | In the past, offenders have sometimes been given lighter sentences if the authorities could not prove a recording was made. |
| The plan was announced as part of the Queen's Speech, in which the the government set out its legislative programme for the year ahead. | The plan was announced as part of the Queen's Speech, in which the the government set out its legislative programme for the year ahead. |
| The change is relevant to a loophole in England and Wales' legal system, but not Northern Ireland or Scotland's. | The change is relevant to a loophole in England and Wales' legal system, but not Northern Ireland or Scotland's. |
| Tougher sentences | Tougher sentences |
| The live streaming of child sexual abuse over the internet is a growing problem, according to a report published by the EU's law enforcement agency Europol last year. | The live streaming of child sexual abuse over the internet is a growing problem, according to a report published by the EU's law enforcement agency Europol last year. |
| "The popularisation of webcams and chat platforms that enable the streaming of live images and video has led to their exploitation by child sexual abusers," it said. | "The popularisation of webcams and chat platforms that enable the streaming of live images and video has led to their exploitation by child sexual abusers," it said. |
| "Some applications allow users to upgrade their accounts by paying a fee, guaranteeing access to extended features such as broadcasts protected by passwords and extra layers of anonymity. | "Some applications allow users to upgrade their accounts by paying a fee, guaranteeing access to extended features such as broadcasts protected by passwords and extra layers of anonymity. |
| "It is a crime that is hard to detect and investigate since the offenders do not usually store a copy of the streamed material." | "It is a crime that is hard to detect and investigate since the offenders do not usually store a copy of the streamed material." |
| The report noted that much of the activity involved children filmed in deprived economies, typically Eastern Asia. | The report noted that much of the activity involved children filmed in deprived economies, typically Eastern Asia. |
| However, there have been prosecutions involving cases in the UK. | However, there have been prosecutions involving cases in the UK. |
| In 2013, a teacher working in Birmingham and two accomplices were arrested after broadcasting live footage of sexual abuse involving a 15-year-old girl. | In 2013, a teacher working in Birmingham and two accomplices were arrested after broadcasting live footage of sexual abuse involving a 15-year-old girl. |
| The teacher, William Hanna, was subsequently sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of three charges of sexual activity with a child and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life. | The teacher, William Hanna, was subsequently sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of three charges of sexual activity with a child and ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life. |
| Because there was no evidence that footage of the abuse had been recorded, he could not be prosecuted for a related offence of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003. | Because there was no evidence that footage of the abuse had been recorded, he could not be prosecuted for a related offence of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child, as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 2003. |
| The change to the law would give the Crown Prosecution Service the ability to seek such a conviction for other live video stream creators in the future. | |
| The government also set out plans to introduce sanctions for professionals who fail to try to stop child abuse where it is their duty to act, as part of a new Policing and Criminal Justice Bill. |