The UK has been warned it is set to “become a playground for sex offenders” as Labour faces calls for tougher punishments for paedophiles. It comes after shocking new analysis of court records reportedly found almost 13,000 paedophiles who hoarded child abuse images avoided jail in the past five years.
Less than 20% of child sex offenders convicted since mid-2020 were immediately sent to prison, reports say. Just 2,910 of the 15,867 convicted were jailed straight away, with 12,957 avoiding serving time behind bars. Most were given community service or suspended sentences.
And there were 92 cases of a conditional or absolute discharge, according to the analysis by The Sun.
Among those who avoided jail were those caught with Category A images, the newspaper reported.
The Justice Secretary is facing calls to take a tougher stance, with experts and police figures urging David Lammy to make prison terms mandatory for those convicted of having child sex images.
Specialist sex offence lawyer Marcus Johnstone, of PCD Solicitors, told The Sun: “Britain is going to become a playground for sex offenders. They will become aware that, if they get caught in the UK, nothing really happens to them.”
Peter Bleksley, a former detective in the Metropolitan Police, said he is “certain” custodial terms are the only sentences that must be given.
“The Government must act sooner rather than later to correct it,” he told the newspaper.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Sentences are decided by independent judges.”
