Rudd to ban sale of acid to under-18s
AMBER RUDD is to ban sales of corrosive products to the under-18s in an attempt to curb acid attacks.
At the Conservative Party conference, the Home Secretary pledged to do more to reduce the sale of sulphuric acid, used in such attacks and in homemade explosives.
She also announced measures to control terrorist and illegal content online in an effort to tackle terror attacks and prevent grooming of children by sex predators.
Ms Rudd demanded that internet companies “honour their moral obligations” and do more to remove terrorist propaganda and indecent images from the internet, making no secret of her concern that companies such as Google were not helping in the fight against terrorism.
Ms Rudd told the conference: “Acid attacks are absolutely revolting. You have all seen the pictures of victims who never fully recover – endless surgeries, lives ruined. So I am also announcing a new offence to prevent the sale of acids to under 18s.
“Furthermore, given its use in the production of socalled ‘mother of Satan’ homemade explosives, I also announce my intention to drastically limit the public sale of sulphuric acid.”
Going on to reveal a new violent crime strategy to be unveiled next year, she said measures will include banning children from buying knives online and preventing the carrying of acid in public without good reason.
Praising the efforts of the police and emergency services, Ms Rudd called on internet companies to tackle terrorism. There were five attacks this year, but seven were blocked, she said, adding that intelligence services had noted a shift towards “crude” attacks, using homemade weaponry.
To stop online radicalisation she warned those who streamed terrorist material online could be jailed for 15 years, ending a disparity that means only those who download or store such material are subject to the law.
She addressed internet comapnies directly, saying: “I call on you with urgency, to bring forward technology solutions to rid your platforms of this vile terrorist material… Act now. Honour your moral obligations.”