New computer lab will help trace child porn

A new computer laboratory was opened today to help the unit that tracks down illegal pornography on the internet.

Internal Affairs Minister George Hawkins said the Wellington laboratory had state of the art computer equipment which would be used by the Censorship Compliance Unit to find child pornography and trace the people trading in it.

The laboratory will also dismantle computers seized by inspectors and search for encrypted material.

Mr Hawkins said the unit's work was vital because prosecutions succeeded or failed on the strength of evidence the inspectors found inside computer systems.

"The unit is frequently commended by overseas agencies for its ability to work in well with them, the quality of information provided and the many successful prosecutions that have resulted," he said.

Since the unit was established in 1996 it has investigated more than 480 New Zealanders involved in child pornography, resulting in 101 convictions.

- NZPA