The shocking case of rapist police officer David Carrick underlines the need for tougher curbs on internet pornography, CARE has said.

The warning comes as charities and members of the public across the UK mark Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2023.

Rapist liked "extreme" porn

This afternoon Carrick, a former Metropolitan Police officer, was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for “violent and brutal” sex attacks against 12 women.

During court proceedings, the court heard that a review of his electronic devices revealed searches for porn including words such as “extreme” and “painful”.

Carrick is not the first UK police officer to have been jailed for serious sexual crimes who was also found to have an interest in vile pornography.

In September, ex-cop Wayne Couzens was found guilty of kidnapping, raping and murdering Sarah Everard, with judges noting his attraction to “brutal" porn.

Government action needed

CARE points to a growing body of evidence showing a link between the consumption of extreme sexual content and sexual violence in the offline world. Tim Cairns, CARE's online safety policy expert, said:

“In cases like David Carrick’s involving grotesque sexual violence, the attraction of the offender to violent pornography is often noted. This was true in regard to Wayne Couzens, and many other men jailed for sex crimes in recent years. Experts are alarmed at the availability of abusive, degrading internet pornography, and even warn that it is inspiring sexual violence offline.

“Schools’ regulator Ofsted has reported growing levels of sexual harassment among school-aged children, with porn also being cited by girls who are the victims of attacks. The idea that our society is not being negatively affected by open-ended access to pornography is absurd. The government needs to address this situation through its online safety regime."

Calling for specific changes to the UK Government's Online Safety Bill, Mr Cairns added:

“In terms of pornographic content, what is illegal offline should be illegal online. Extreme pornography and prohibited pornographic material that cannot be sold in shops should not be available to watch online. Upwards of 65% of pornography available on mainstream websites would not be allowed to be sold in shops. The Government has an opportunity to close this legal loophole

“To be truly fit for purpose, the Online Safety Bill needs to include a number of additional measures. We want to see: a definition of pornography as harmful content; robust age verification measures; age checks on porn sites within 6 months of a new law; measures verifying the consent and age of people in porn videos; and measures to ensure violent porn that’s illegal offline is also illegal online.

"We call on UK Ministers to engage with CARE and other child safety campaigners who wish to see specific additions to the Online Safety Bill. Let’s make this legislation a truly worthy response to the vulnerable in society.”