The Government hopes a committee of MPs can sort out inconclusive advice on whether watching pornographic and violent videos causes criminal behaviour.
Internal Affairs Minister George Hawkins told Parliament advice from his officials was that research on the relationship between viewing violent or sexually explicit material and physical offending was not conclusive.
However, he also acknowledged that as police minister he had been told that police couldn't "discount" such a linkage.
Asked if he was aware of Child, Youth and Family research which showed 20 young sex abusers had all seen hard core pornography, Mr Hawkins said: "The Government administration committee started an investigation before the election and they have now taken it up again and will report to the House before the end of this year."
Asked if he would tighten the censorship laws, Mr Hawkins said it would be foolish to do that before the committee issued its finding.
He said recommendations on the appointment of a deputy censor would be made to the Cabinet "very shortly".
- NZPA
MPs study porn's link to crime
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