The government wants to give the police new powers to block credit cards if they have been used to pay for child pornography on the internet, justice minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin told Radio 1 news on Thursday.

‘It is one way to take action immediately,’ Hirsch Ballin said.
A justice ministry spokesman told news agency ANP that the minister hoped to begin talks on the practicalities with the banks and credit card providers before the summer. Agreements will also have to be made on exchanging information on credit card holders, the spokesman said.
If agreement can be reached, police will be able to intervene to block a credit card without a court order.