ITNMon Jul 14 2008
children abroad prosecuted in Britain have come into force.
The legislation allows police to bring charges against "sex tourists" even if their activities were legal in the country where they took place.
It means someone who has sex with an under-16 could be prosecuted on their return to the UK even if the child was above the local age of consent.
Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said: "I hope this new law will send a tough message to deter travelling sex tourists.
"We already have some of the toughest sex offences legislation in the world but we are determined to do everything we can to protect the most vulnerable, at home and abroad.
"Anyone who commits an offence against children abroad will face the prospect of prosecution for the same offence here even though it may not have been an offence in that country."
Chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre Jim Gamble said: "No offender should be able to escape to foreign jurisdictions in order to abuse children and young people, or possess images and materials that show sexual exploitation without living in fear of UK police working with their international counterparts to bring that person to account.
"This measure is a significant step forward and sends out a very clear and unequivocal message to offenders everywhere - and no matter whether they are in the UK or abroad - we will track you, we will bring you to account and you will face the consequences of your criminal actions."
NSPCC policy advisor Zoe Hilton said: "These new measures to prosecute those who commit sexual offences abroad are very welcome.
"However, there are still loopholes in the rules which allow sex offenders to slip off and abuse children in other countries. For example, when travelling abroad, offenders only have to notify authorities of the first country they plan to visit.
"This makes it easy for an offender to travel from Europe and then on to countries which have weaker child protection systems like Cambodia or Vietnam.
"It is essential that these new measures should be accompanied by more resources to convict, manage and monitor offenders who go overseas to abuse children."
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