Guy Behind UK's Porn Rules Busted—Over Child Porn

Cameron aide Patrick Rock resigns after arrest
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 4, 2014 10:50 AM CST
Guy Behind UK's Porn Rules Busted—Over Child Porn
A Downing Street official has been arrested in a child pornography case.   (pcruciatti / Shutterstock.com)

A top aide to David Cameron who helped craft new online pornography rules has been arrested in a child pornography case. Patrick Rock resigned from his post following his arrest last month, the Telegraph reports. Ten Downing Street says it contacted police, who investigated computers there before arresting the aide. Rock, who began working with Cameron in the 1990s, was one of only three advisers with private Downing Street offices.

Cameron's government set up online filters to fight child pornography; "Patrick Rock was one of a number of advisers and officials involved in dealing with this issue," though he didn't lead the project, officials say. Rock also faced a sexual harassment complaint, an insider tells the Daily Mail. "Obviously when I heard these allegations I was profoundly shocked," Cameron said today, in remarks broadcast on the BBC. He said Downing Street had kept the allegations under wraps so as not to preempt the investigation. "But as soon as questions were asked, as questions would inevitably be asked, we have given very full and straightforward answers." (More Patrick Rock stories.)

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