Boys view porn on St Pancras Library PC

Published: 18 March 2010
by RICHARD OSLEY

TOWN HALL chiefs have been urged to tighten up security after a report that children used a library computer to access hardcore pornography.

Witnesses watched in horror when two children were seen looking at online films containing graphic sexual material at St Pancras Library in King’s Cross last Wednesday evening.

“I was shocked to see two boys, perhaps aged nine to 11, watching a hardcore pornographic video on one of the PCs. It looked like the PC was in the children’s area of the library,” said an onlooker.

Tulip Siddiq, a Labour election candidate, said: “Someone saw it and came to me about it because they were concerned. The library did the right thing and acted promptly. 

“My concern is that this happened in the first place and why the council didn’t have a firewall to block these sites. A lot of parents will be worried now about the safety of letting children use computers in libraries.”

The council’s head of libraries, Mike Clarke, personally investigated the incident and “alerted colleagues” in the council’s IT department. 

A council spokesman said: “We have taken this very seriously and are doing all we can to ensure it is not repeated. Public computers have extensive filter systems but new websites are being created all the time, designed to avoid detection. 

“Our filters are updated regularly and our staff are instructed to be vigilant. The computer in question has now been moved so it is more easily watched by library staff. There will also be increased staff in the children’s library.”