Should camera phones face clampdown?

The rape made headlines on CBS television across America.

Callously - and this goes for media coverage everywhere - it was not the heinous crime itself that attracted the attention so much as the use of mobile phone cameras by men witnessing the attack.

Texting in the UK now is a part of daily routine and millions of people will not go anywhere without their mobile phones.

But it is still relatively new to the USA where mobiles do not enjoy the same mass appeal because phone calls are so inexpensive.

The abuse of picture phones to invade privacy is the issue CBS and others were interested in.

Ironically, any pictures of the Brighton rape might end up helping detectives bring the culprit to justice.

There is a danger of becoming paranoid but there are concerns picture or camera phones will become a boon for paedophiles and other perverts.

They are not instantly recognised as cameras and abusers can pretend to be making a phone call while photographing their prey.

It is a potential use that has not escaped the attention of the mobile phone companies.

Some have installed an audible shutter "click" to announce a picture has been taken.

Tony Robson, spokesman for Vodafone, whose camera phone is advertised by England soccer captain David Beckham, said any regulations would have to apply to all cameras.

He said: "You can now get cameras the size of matchboxes which are easily concealed and there are others which are remote-controlled."

Mr Robson said no one should lose sight of the benefits camera phones provide. Besides being fun and useful, they can help fight crime.

One offender recently was photographed with a camera phone and the image was used later to prosecute him.

Mr Robson said: "A taxi driver I spoke to recently said he would not be without his camera phone.

"He carries it with him in the cab all the time and if his vehicle is involved in an accident, he can instantly photograph the damage and the scene for his insurance company."

The fear of illicit pictures of children being sent to other perverts through camera phones and, perhaps, ending up on the internet is making people nervous.

Some schools, clubs and playschools are taking no chances and are banning or discouraging the use of all cameras.

A Bedfordshire school banned cameras from its school play and Edinburgh council imposed a blanket ban at its 156 schools, though it was later lifted following complaints from parents.

Councils in Sussex have no official policy and headteachers are allowed to decide for themselves.

They believe there is a danger of over-reaction, that to impose a ban would merely upset and penalise families wanting innocent snaps for their albums.

Professor Frank Furedi, author of Paranoid Parenting, argues we regard almost every aspect of children's lives from the paedophile's point of view.

He said: "Within local education there is a phenomenally strong climate of watching your back and taking steps to ward off the threat of being blamed, or worse, sued, for not foreseeing a risk."

Sussex Police are keeping an open mind but are watching developments closely.

They have taken the lead nationally in rounding up and prosecuting people downloading child porn images. More than 150 people have been arrested as part of Operation Ore, sparked after US authorities uncovered a worldwide child porn web site.

Detective Chief Superintendent Graham Cox, head of CID, said: "This new technology obviously brings many benefits but also, as with similar things, there is a potential for misuse and abuse."

Internet service providers, he said, will shut down sites with illegal material if police and other agencies approach them but they are not proactive and do not shut them down of their own accord.

"The danger is if they don't police themselves, then eventually they will be regulated from the outside.

"My hope is that mobile phone companies, and I am sure they already are looking at this, will ensure their product does not get a bad name."