Member

Finally, I turn to Amendment 210, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Owen; she is not here to speak to it. I put on record that we share her desire that images used to commit offences under Sections 66A or 66B of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 be removed from convicted offenders. However, there is already a process for this to happen. Under Section 153 of the Sentencing Act 2020, the court has the power to deprive an offender convicted of these offences of any property, including images, used for the purpose of committing those offences. Although judges’ use of these powers is a matter of judicial independence, we will closely examine what changes may be necessary and will revisit this if it is felt that changes are necessary.