Coulsdon Library defends its web security after porn case

LIBRARY bosses have defended their internet security settings in the wake of a court case concerning a mental health patient who was caught performing a sex act while looking at pornography.

The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of outraging public decency at Coulsdon Library last year.

The man, whom the Advertiser has agreed not to name because of his mental health problems, admitted performing a sex act on himself while viewing pornographic images on a library computer on November 5.

The man, who is undergoing mental health treatment, was given a conditional discharge by Croydon magistrates.

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This week the council insisted it had tried to prevent such incidents by using extensive web-filtering services across the computer network, but admitted it was hard to block the constantly evolving websites.

A spokesman said: "Websites change their names and content descriptions all the time, making it extremely difficult for the service provider to screen out everything that we would rather was not viewed on a public computer. When we do become aware of any such sites we immediately make the provider aware of these so that they can apply new rules to their systems."

Peter Bradwell, who campaigns with internet freedom lobby Open Rights Group, said web-filtering systems could be easily foiled.

He said: "We have to recognise they are easy for users to get around and also for website owners to avoid.

"If someone really knows what they are looking for it is probably not going to be too difficult to access sites that are meant to be blocked.

"They tend to do little to deter the determined user, working best to prevent accidental access."

That appears to be the case, as an Advertiser reporter who tested access at two libraries – Thornton Heath and Croydon central – found the most obviously offensive sites blocked.

Access to sites with the word "porn" and "violent" in the title was blocked, among with other sites that appeared by searching those words.

However, we were able to access other violent video games and order prescription drugs such as sleeping pill Zopiclone.

Mr Bradwell added that it is hard for authorities to get the balance right, as filtering systems can be too restrictive.

"We have seen one mobile network in which all sorts of websites were accidentally blocked," he said. "Church websites, community groups, news sites, political parties. These filters do make mistakes.

"There are more and more calls for the use of website blocking and we have to make sure that we consider issues relating to the public's access to information."

A strict warning on Croydon's library computers says the council will take action against anyone caught viewing offensive material. It adds that children aged 16 and under may only use the computers with written parental permission, and those aged eight and under must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

Croydon magistrates heard that the council was in the process of suspending the man from using the public libraries.

His lawyer, Angela Horne, said that he intended no harm, was deeply ashamed, and had apologised to the library.