Auditors

[Fedster + 1,307]

Parliamentary authorities say majority of attempts are not deliberate - In 2016 the parliamentary filtering system blocked 113,208 attempts.

More than 24,000 attempts have been made to access pornographic websites in the Houses of Parliament since the General Election.

The figure of 24,473 attempts represents around 160 requests per day on average from computers and other devices connected to the parliamentary network - which is used by MPs, peers and staff - between June and October last year.

It comes amid a sex scandal in Westminster, which saw Theresa May sack her de facto deputy Damian Green after he made "misleading" statements about allegations that police found pornography on computers in his parliamentary office in 2008.

In his resignation letter, Mr Green continued to deny "unfounded and deeply hurtful" claims that he downloaded or viewed the material.

Theresa May criticised the former Metropolitan Police officer who spoke publicly about the allegations of pornography found on Mr Green's computer.

Meanwhile former Met Police assistant commissioner Bob Quick called on Mr Green, the MP for Ashford, to publicly retract the "deeply hurtful" allegations that he lied.

Data, released today following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Press Association, shows a spike in attempts to visit the sites in September, with 9,467 requests from both the Houses of Lords and Commons that month.

Parliamentary authorities say the majority of attempts are not deliberate.

The figures also show a sharp decrease in attempts to access pornographic websites in recent years.

In 2016, the parliamentary filtering system blocked 113,208 attempts, down from 213,020 the previous year.

Figures for January and February 2017 could not be provided by the parliamentary authorities due to changes in technology and the way the data is held.

But the available data showed there were 30,876 attempts from March to October.

During this period, parliament was dissolved from late April to early June ahead of the general election, and MPs were away during the summer recess from the end of July to early September.

A Parliamentary spokesman said of the figures: "All pornographic websites are blocked by Parliament's computer network.

"The vast majority of 'attempts' to access them are not deliberate. The data shows 'requests' to access websites, not visits to them.

"There are 8,500 computers on the parliamentary network, which are used by MPs, peers, their staff and staff of both Houses.

"This data also covers personal devices used when logged on to Parliament's guest Wi-Fi."

A separate (FOI) request showed there were also at least 2,751,755 attempts to access blocked websites on the parliamentary network from January to October this year.

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[Beaker 817]

With the number of W***ers in that place I'm surprised it is that low a number.

 

 

[ParochialYokal 1,119]

Many years ago I used to experience filters blocking sites in my public sector day job due to words pertaining to sex or drugs- despite working in a role relating to drugs.

This article means nothing unless we know more about the filters in place. Issues relating to prostitution, sexual health, gender and a range of other issues that Parliamentary researchers could be working on could potentially trigger the safeguards that have been out in place.

I doubt that Parliament is full up with people trying to access porn on Parliamentary devices...

[Indiana Jones + 1,103]

It's a wonder they've got the time to spare, what with them doing such a great join of running the country.

[Reasonable Man + 1,251]

I regularly get blocked by Web Marshall for trying to access 'inappropriate' sites. I'm sure an FOI to the force would make a good story for all the porn and gambling sites I am trying to access.

[Shmook + 532]

38 minutes ago, Reasonable Man said:

I regularly get blocked by Web Marshall for trying to access 'inappropriate' sites. I'm sure an FOI to the force would make a good story for all the porn and gambling sites I am trying to access.

*Daily Fail breaking news*

Cop admits to accessing sordid porn and addictive gambling sites whilst using force computers.