The Home Office is considering changing child pornography laws to include cartoon or computer-created pictures.

It is currently an offence to possess indecent photographs or "pseudo-photographs" of children, but indecent cartoons, computer-animated scenes, and drawings are legal.

The Home Office note announcing the consultation says: "Evidence from police and children's organisations is that the availability of such images is growing."

The document states such images could be used to "groom" children for acts of abuse.

The consultation will consider whether to amend the Child Protection Act, create a new offence, or do nothing. The consultation covers England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

The government's preferred option is to create a new offence with punishment of an unlimited fine and up to three years in prison.

You can download the document here. ®

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