Death websites facing crackdown

Published on Saturday 26 January 2008 19:47

THE danger of websites that encourage suicide are to form part of a Government review into child safety on the internet.

It is expected to look at a cluster of teenage suicides in Bridgend, South Wales.

At least seven young people who knew each other have killed themselves in the past year. There has been speculation they used the internet to research and discuss suicide.

Parenting guru Tanya Byron has been considering the issue as part of her inquiry into child safety on the web.

The Ministry of Justice said yesterday that it was looking at taking action against websites that featured suicide.

Any moves would take the form of guidance rather than any change in the law, a spokesman added.

"The law is clear on this: assisting, or attempting to assist suicides is an offence, whether it is carried out on or offline," he said.

A Department for Children, Schools and Families spokeswoman confirmed that the independent Byron review, launched in September, would address the issue. It is due to report in March.

The Government has stressed that the level of suicides in England is at a record low.