Alexander applauds tougher line on child porn

United Future law and order spokesman Marc Alexander has thrown his full support behind the planned introduction of harsher sentences for child porn offenders.

"The increase of the maximum penalty from one to 10 years in jail for producing, copying and trading in child pornography is to be commended," Mr Alexander said today.

"It's about time that those who are involved in the sexual abuse of children for financial gain are seen as the depraved, ethically bankrupt parasites that they are.

"People have got to realise that those who trade in these images, those who use them for their own pathetic gratification, are as guilty of abusing a child as if they were in the room with that child as it was being abused and did nothing about it.

"Children are our most valuable and vulnerable resource and those that attempt to rob them of their childhood, those who pervert their right to innocence have no place in our society," he said. "Those who play a part in the child porn industry deserve no favours nor any sympathy ... there is every reason for them to be brought to account, vilified and put on a public register

"Now they have been given a warning!" Mr Alexander said.

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