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YEP scores major victory in campaign to rid internet of sick suicide websites
The YEP has scored a major victory in its campaign to rid the internet of sick websites that promote suicide.
The Government has announced that new legislation will help to crack down on internet sites which promote suicide and carry suggestions on how people can kill themselves.
The announcement in the Queen's Speech follows the death of 13-year-old suicide victim Imogen D'Arcy, from Adel, who hanged herself with a computer lead after viewing internet suicide sites.
Aiding or abetting a suicide is a crime punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment - but no websites have been prosecuted.
Ministers will bring in a new law to make it clear that people who use the internet to help others kill themselves will also face prosecution.
The shake-up will be included in the Coroners and Justice Bill.
An explanation of the Bill states that it will: "modernise the law on assisting suicide to help increase public understanding and reassure people that it applies as much on the internet as it does off line."
Ministers have stated that they believe that the law as it stands is capable of cracking down on internet sites.
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But they are concerned that applying the law is "complicated" and that "it is difficult both to understand and explain".
The law will therefore not be extended but will instead be "simplified and modernised in a way which will make it clearer for everyone to understand".
Justice minister Maria Eagle recently said: "Simplifying and modernising the language of the law should provide reassurance that the law is capable of reflecting the new ways of communicating and accessing information."
The step was today welcomed by Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland, who yesterday tabled a hard hitting parliamentary motion on the issue.
The EDM says that it "fully backs the campaign by the Yorkshire Evening Post to ban these websites and urges as many people as possible to sign the campaign petition."
Mr Mulholland said: "It simply cannot be right that impressionable young people like Imogen are able to visit websites which actually promote suicide and provide advice on how people can take their own life.
"I warmly welcome the fact that the issue was mentioned as part of the Queen's speech today, and that change should occur within the year, but we must continue to press the Government to ensure that this is the case.
"So I am very pleased that the Yorkshire Evening Post has initiated this campaign.
"The more people who sign up to it, and demonstrate the huge strength of public feeling that there is on this issue, the faster that the Government will act."
A recent survey found web searchers were more likely to find sites advising them on how to end their lives than those offering comfort and help.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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