BLAENAU Gwent MP, Nick Smith is lending his support to an NSPCC campaign to make it a crime for an adult to send a sexual message to a child.

The former campaign manager for the charity is backing the Flaw in the Law campaign which is calling on the government to introduce a new offence so that it is always illegal for an adult to intentionally send a sexual message to a child.

The campaign is seeking an amendment to the Serious Crime Bill, which is soon due to receive its Second Reading in the Commons.

Speaking as the charity called for more people to sign the petition at nspcc.org.uk/flaw, the Blaenau Gwent MP said the law just hadn’t kept up with the way abusers used the internet.

“From my time at the NSPCC I am all too aware of the horrible abuse children can suffer,” he said.

“At the moment online grooming, where sex abusers can fish for victims on social networks, chat rooms and in gaming, doesn’t come under the law if there is no intention for the abuser to meet a child.

“But if it was a crime, the police could step in far earlier in the process and prevent grooming before it escalates.

“I urge everyone to sign the petition and send the Government a message that it should be illegal for an adult to send a sexual message to a child.”