A consultation response by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Sue Mountstevens is calling for adequate protections for children and young people from the potentially damaging effects of violent pornography.
The consultation response calls for protection in the context of tackling domestic and sexual abuse.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport commissioned the Child Safety Online: Age Verification for Pornography Consultation, to which the PCC has responded with her support of the proposal to require age verification for access to all sites containing pornographic material.
Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “Tackling domestic and sexual abuse is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan and with an increased focus in this area there have been many improvements to the police response and support available to victims of these crimes over the past three years.
“Systemic changes are required for us to begin to prevent sexual and domestic abuse and pornography is giving young boys and girls a distorted view of healthy relationships.
“I commend the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for taking on this issue and am optimistic about the change it has the potential to bring about.”
The PCC has also made her views on the importance of Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) clear in a number of government consultations and is a signatory of the PSHE pledge.
“PSHE education is the part of the curriculum in which pupils learn how to stay healthy and safe and prepare for life and work.
Yet despite its importance and the evidence of its potential, the subject isn’t statutory, meaning that millions of pupils miss out on the high-quality learning they need and deserve.
It is in this context that the PCC feels this consultation on age restrictions for pornography is so crucial.
The Child Safety Online: Age Verification for Pornography Consultation closes on Tuesday, 12th April 2016.
You can find out more here:
www.gov.uk/government/consultations/child-safety-online-age-verification-for-pornography.
