Catherine McKinnell MP backs moves to fine credit card companies over child pornography.

MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North, Catherine McKinnell, has become the first named sponsor of a Bill to fine companies whose pre-paid credit cards are used to download child porn.

The Bill, introduced by fellow MP, Geraint Davies, aims to close a loophole that currently allows those making purchases with pre-paid credit cards to do so anonymously. Typically costing around £100, pre-paid cards can easily be bought at supermarkets and service stations with no requirement for ID.

“It is very worrying that paedophiles can purchase a credit card, register anonymously and use it to pay for abusive images” commented Ms McKinnell. “The details of people using credit cards must be known in order to make sure that police can track and prosecute anybody involved in child pornography.”

“By allowing this situation to remain unchecked, credit card firms are complicit in the viewing of child pornography and should do far more to ensure that their products are not misused in this way.”