Prison And Lifting Of Interim Name Suppression Order Sends Right Message, Says Child Advocacy Groups

The decision by the Hamilton District Court, to imprison a trader and collector of Internet child sex abuse images and lift an order for interim name suppression sends the right message, say groups combating the trade.

Peter John Riddell was sentenced to seven months jail last Monday on a total of 52 charges of collecting and distributing Internet videos and pictures. Department of Internal Affairs’ Inspectors found 2,957 videos and pictures of adults having sex with children aged from two to 14 years and of children being sexually abused and forced into sexual poses.

An application for permanent name suppression made on Monday was refused and the interim name suppression order was extended until 4 pm yesterday.

Spokesperson for ECPAT and Stop Demand, Denise Ritchie, says “It is well known that those who trade in images of child sexual abuse operate in secrecy. Ongoing secrecy through permanent name suppression is not a signal that the Courts should be endorsing. Naming offenders increases future accountability to others. It reflects the gravity of offending and hopefully acts as a deterrent to others. The public, particularly caregivers and children, are entitled to know who these perpetrators are.”

“The global trade in child sex abuse images exists because of demand. The Courts must crack down heavily on those who create the demand - men like Riddell - if our hope is to end the trade. Naming those who create the demand, and imposing a prison sentence together with a compulsory sex offender treatment programme, is the only appropriate penalty.”

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