U.K. Judges given power to impose tougher sentences on paedophiles caught in stings

BBC ^ | May 17 | BBC

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Courts are to be given the power to impose tougher sentences on paedophiles caught in stings using "fake children".

Sentencing Council guidance coming into force at the end of this month will clarify how to sentence cases considering "intended sexual harm" - even where there was not actually a victim and no sexual activity happened.

Paedophile rings are sometimes uncovered by police posing as children.

But offenders have sought reduced jail terms by saying no child was hurt.

Current guidelines have long been interpreted as meaning that - in many cases, where someone was caught in a sting - the jail term would be lower because of the absence of an affected child.

Sentencing Council member Judge Rosa Dean said the new guidelines will bring greater clarity to courts.

"Judges and magistrates will impose sentences that reflect the intended harm to the child, even where that activity does not ultimately take place, to protect children from people planning to cause them sexual harm," she said.

The rules will cover the sentencing of all abusers caught via stings, usually operating online - including those run by police forces around the world and traps set by informal groups of people often dubbed "paedophile hunters".

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