New powers to allow banks and building
societies to remove the credit cards of customers cautioned for,
or convicted of, buying indecent images of children online were
agreed in Parliament today.
The Data Protection (Processing of sensitive
personal data) Order 2006 will allow card issuers to process
sensitive personal data provided to them by law enforcement
authorities so that they can withdraw the card used to commit the
offence.
The order results from collaboration between
the Department for Constitutional Affairs, the Association for
Payment Clearing Services (APACS), the Child Exploitation and
Online Protection Centre (CEOP), law enforcement agencies,
children's charities and the Home Office.
The data protection minister, Baroness
, said:
"This order will help to disrupt paedophile
activity and in that way will have an impact on
re-offending.
"It is vital to disrupt and where possible to
curtail paedophile activities. Removing the credit cards and
closing the accounts of these people are critically important
steps."
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of CEOP,
said:
"Those who view images of child abuse are
responsible for creating the victims of this terrible crime. For
every image on line there is a child in the real world who has
been abused."
In 2003 and 2004 around 3,000 people were
dealt with for taking or making indecent photographs or fake
photographs of children, up from just over 1,000 in the preceding
two years.
APACS, the UK payments association, welcomed
the plans. Sandra Quinn, APACS' Director of Corporate
Communications, said:
"No card provider wants to be associated with
those who commit these crimes. With this change in the law our
members will have the information they need to remove offenders'
cards."
The order will come into force on 26 July. It
does not require the card issuer to remove or close an account
but will be up to the card issuer to make the decision on the
basis of the customer's breach of contract.
Notes to Editors
1. For more information please contact Sandra
Smith Hughes, DCA Press Office, 020 7210 8692.
2. CEOP Press Office available for comment:
0870 000 3434.
3. The draft order was laid before Parliament
on 13 June and successfully debated in the Commons on 5
July.
4. Figures provided by the Home
Office.
ENDS
