By Maryann Maguire BBC News Online in Belfast

A hi-tech computer programme will help detect paedophiles

The police in Northern Ireland have started using a new hi-tech 'weapon' to combat internet child pornography.

Working with a specialised software programme known as Childbase, the system allows police forces round the world to exchange information on child victims as well as convicted paedophiles.

The database facility is being coordinated by the National Criminal Intelligence Service in England.

It holds 400,000 images of young victims, paedophiles as well as individuals suspected of abusing children.

PSNI Chief Inspector Willie MacAuley, who is in charge of the Child Care unit in Northern Ireland, said most of the child pornography available locally had been downloaded from the internet.

"Images and photographs that we have discovered in Northern Ireland as part of our investigations are supplied to the National Crime Intelligence Service.

"They are uploaded onto their system and in exchange we are given an intelligence report.

"This includes precious information such as where and when the picture is likely to have been taken."

What people need to realise is that behind every picture is a victim Martin Crummley NSPCC

He said it could also help police find out if there was evidence the child was living in Northern Ireland and if they should start an investigation to locate that child.

Children's charities in Northern Ireland, such as the NSPCC, have warmly welcomed the introduction of the software.

Martin Crummley from the NSPCC in Belfast said that one of the on-going problems faced by social services and the police was being able to identify abused children in order to help them.

"What people need to realise is that behind every picture is a victim - a child whose life has been shattered by the abuse they are suffering at the hands of adults."

Childbase and other similar databases already in circulation help detectives eliminate the task of having to sift through thousands of often harrowing pictures to find out whether a child has already been at the centre of a police investigation.

Eileen Calder: "The courts are not taking this issue seriously"

By mapping the face and focusing on features such as the eyes, nose and mouth, the program can identify and help track down the closest match.

In recent months, the PSNI have also contributed photographs found in the course of investigations in Northern Ireland as part of Operation Ore, an international anti-paedophile crackdown which has led to 41 cases, most of which are currently the subject of criminal prosecutions.

With the help of additional software, detectives are also able to see what a child might look like several years after a picture is taken, helping to identify adults who were abused as children.

Childnet plays important role

Police believe that programmes such as Childnet are an important tool, given that many of the photographs in circulation date back to the 60s and 70s.

"The first thing we would want to check is that we are dealing with a child", said Willie MacAuley.

"If we have identified that it is a child and there is a likelihood that the child is in the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland, then we would want to take steps to identify the child in order to protect that child."

The Rape Crisis Centre in Belfast also believes the introduction of such technology can only be a positive move. But Eileen Calder, who is co-director and a counsellor, believes the main problem remains the way in which the law is treating convicted paedophiles.

"The reality in Northern Ireland is that once paedophiles have been brought to justice they receive light sentences and in recent cases very light fines.

"This is a major problem as good police and community work is being totally wasted because the courts are not taking this issue seriously enough and in many cases are not being consistent with the sentences that are being handed out."

Children's charities as well as police are keen to emphasise that the public has a role to play in the fight against paedophiles. And they are calling on anyone who may stumble across disturbing sites and photographs to contact them.