Porn watcher ready for action

The UK's web porn watchdog will mark the arrival of its new chief executive with a crackdown on illegal internet material.

Peter Robbins, former chief superintendent of Hackney police force, will replace the Internet Watch Foundation's current CEO, David Kerr, at the end of March.

Robbins' CV includes two years as a member of the Central Obscene Publications Branch and, for the last three years, borough commander of the London Borough of Hackney, responsible for 860 police and civilian staff.

He has also been awarded the Queen's Police Medal for distinguished service.

IWF chairman Roger Darlington praised his new CEO's strong management skills and multi-agency experience. "He will be a great asset to the organisation," he said.

Robbins will take the reigns in April as the IWF launches a crackdown on illegal content, advising ISPs to shut down any newsgroups which regularly host child pornography or have names which encourage the posting of such material.

After five years as CEO, Kerr announced his retirement last month, telling silicon.com that his replacement would have to fill a "unique position".

"My successor will need to combine the management skills of running a small organisation, the diplomatic skills of working to the board and stakeholders, and the vision to grow new methods of regulation for converging media in an international context," he said.

Robbins will be paid somewhere in the region of £50,000 a year to work with child protection agencies, the Home Office, police and ISPs in their battle to curb the proliferation of illegal material, particularly child pornography, on the net.