Call for tighter "grooming" laws
11 Mar 05
MSPs say proposed laws to counter internet paedophiles "not yet tough enough"
MSPs are urging the Executive to tighten up the terms of its Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill.
The Bill will create an offence of sexual grooming of a child under 16 by an adult aged 18 or over, which will be punishable by a jail term of up to 10 years.
However while a report from the Justice 1 Committee it backs the general principles behind the legislation, it says it does not go far enough.
Convenor of the Committee, Pauline McNeill said: "We are extremely concerned that the offence the Bill proposes would not criminalise grooming itself, but would only come into effect after the grooming process, at the point when a paedophile moves towards committing a physical sexual offence against a child.
"We are worried that such an offence would not significantly enhance the ability of police and the prosecutors to bring to trial predatory paedophiles who use the internet to groom their intended victims.
"The Committee is urging the Executive to bring forward additional measures to tackle grooming directly rather than relying on this and other existing offences."
The Committee is also seeking assurances that the measures proposed by the Executive are human rights-compatible.