Connarty Speaks Up In Parliament For Abused Children.

Michael Connarty presses the Government on tougher EU wide child protection measures.

CONNARTY ARGUES FOR NO TIME LIMIT ON PROSECUTION FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION

TOUGHER EUROPE-WIDE ACTION NEEDED

Linlithgow and East Falkirk MP, Michael Connarty has pressed the government in a Commons debate on a new EU Directive on child sex abuse and exploitation to do more to tackle this problem. He said that because people now moved around and worked in various European countries, only a tough EU wide approach across borders could succeed in protecting children from predators who abused and exploited them.

In the UK, an offender can still be prosecuted many years after the crime has taken place, without any time limit. Mr. Connarty called on the government to press for the extension of this law to all EU countries.

He put Home Office Minister, Crispin Blunt, on the spot over why the UK government has not ratified the 2007 Council of Europe Convention on sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

Mr Connarty said there was an urgent need for automatic transfer of information and sex offenders lists between EU member states. It was not enough to rely on employers trying to obtain references.

He also wants Britain’s tough and immediate system for blocking child pornography internet sites extended across the EU, so that site operators could not continue while they challenged a block.

Mr Connarty demanded that the government support the European Parliament’s attempt to extend extraterritorial jurisdiction over sexual abuse and exploitation of children. He said, “This would give the authorities the power they really need to make sure that offenders do not escape the arm of the law, in whatever EU country they move to or operate in.”

Speaking after the debate, Michael Connarty insisted, “While it is a step forward to support the new Directive, the UK should be pressing for the very highest standards. The protection of our children from the atrocious people who sexually abuse and exploit them has to be a special priority. I fear that the government is letting its anti-European ideology get in the way of fully safeguarding our children.”

NOTE: The Minister confirmed that this Directive will apply to Scotland.