Policing and Crime Bill

The Minister will be aware that this is an issue that we highlighted in the Public Bill Committee. I am sure that my hon. Friend the Member for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford) will be pleased to hear that the Government have accepted the concept in tabling these amendments. Can the Minister give any explanation or guidance as to how the provisions will be rolled out? Is it intended that CEOP will take this forward, or will further broader guidance be given to police forces on the application of this new offence? Obviously, we hope that it will be effective in dealing with these pernicious paedophiles, who seek to hide away appalling images in computers and other systems in an encrypted form.