Police chief vow on child sex abuse

Jim Gamble of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre was criticised by a children's charity for arguing that paedophiles convicted of looking at child pornography should not necessarily go to prison.

He argued that the offender could receive a caution and be managed within the community. He was praised elsewhere for saying that prison alone was not the answer to the problem. He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "We shouldn't be sending everyone that ever commits an offence - particularly of the viewing kind - to prison."

He also said there were too many people being convicted of paedophilia to be dealt with in the criminal justice system. It was time to adopt a more "intelligent posture" in tackling the problem, he said.

"(If) someone is at the beginning of the spiral of abuse, where there is evidence to indicate during the investigation that this person may well benefit from a police caution and be managed, then of course that needs to be done."

His remarks were attacked by Michele Elliott, director of children's charity Kidscape, who said: "I agree with him that these people need treatment, however to treat them in the community sends a message that what they have done is not very serious.

"I believe that if you download child pornography, you are just as guilty as the people who are taking the photographs. You create a market, because you want to view child pornography, therefore a child is abused for your pleasure. As far as I am concerned, that means prison."

She added: "Offenders, while locked up, should receive mandatory treatment, but they should not be left in the community. Jim Gamble is effectively saying 'we've caught people doing something that's abhorrent, but we've got too many to deal with', but that's crazy. If there isn't room, turn loose people who shouldn't be in there, who haven't paid their council taxes, and put these people in."

Mr Gamble issued a statement which said: "Child sex abuse is a crime that must not and will not be tolerated. Offenders must be caught, and here at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre we are doing everything in our power to safeguard children and bring perpetrators to account.

"So let me be clear. If you are a person who has thoughts of a sexual nature about children then get help before you offend. If you don't and you do go on to commit an offence then we will track and bring you to account. That will damage many lives - most significantly the victim's, but also the lives of your family and friends.