Tough new penalties aim to stop child prostitution

Adults who pay children for sex will face harder penalties under proposals designed to crack down on child prostitution to be announced today.

The Government will outline a new offence of commercial sexual exploitation of a child with specific criminal charges for people who use prostitutes under the age of 18.

Sex with a child under 13 is expected to carry a maximum life sentence, while prison sentences of up to 14 years could result from sex with anyone between the age of 13 and 15.

New charges designed to stop the recruitment of children into pornography and the sex trade will be introduced by David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, as part of reforms of the sexual offences laws.

Pimps who sell children under the age of 18 for sex and pornographers who photograph children will face harder penalties, and a new offence of 'grooming' children for sex will be introduced to stop paedophiles using sweets and other blandishments to lure them into sexual abuse.

Paedophiles who pose as teenagers on the internet will face prosecution under the proposed legislation making it an offence to go online to pick up minors for sex. Mr Blunkett is also expected to introduce a more comprehensive law against trafficking children for prostitution.

The reforms will seek to remove discrimination against gay people and abolish offences such as buggery, gross indecency and soliciting by men.