Rosemary Vaux -
tel: 020 8943 5343 mobile: 07792 72 62 41
email: rvaux@ravenstonepr.co.uk
SUICIDE AND THE INTERNET
– UPDATING THE LAW
PAPYRUS's response
17 September 2008
We welcome the fact that the Ministry of Justice is taking this issue seriously and welcome their intention to update the language in which the law on suicide is framed.
It is our view that much of the content of websites and chatrooms which promote suicide is illegal under British law - but there have been no successful prosecutions in this country and Internet Service Providers have been reluctant to take down such sites.
If the revised wording of the law makes it clearer that the deliberate promotion of suicide in this way on the internet is illegal it will be a big step forward.
Unfortunately it would appear that the law itself is not going to be updated to protect the vulnerable from those who would use the internet to directly promote suicide.
We look forward eagerly to seeing the specific proposals and to engaging further with the Government in trying to make the internet safer in this important area.
Top of page
|
|
