Nick Ross: 'I would probably watch child pornography'
Former Crimewatch host says he'd look at images of child abuse to 'find out what all the fuss is about'
DAYS after provoking outrage with his outspoken views on rape, former Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross has admitted he'd "probably" watch child pornography.
Speaking at the Hay Festival, Ross said humans are naturally inquisitive creatures, an instinct that is unlikely to be suppressed even when the object of their curiosity is as appalling as child porn, the Daily Telegraph reports.
"I think if someone came to me and said: 'Would you like to see what all the fuss is about?', I'm sorry, I probably would say yes," Ross told a festival audience yesterday. As evidence, he referred to a study in which internet users clicked on links to extreme pornography even if they had not searched for it.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Does this tell us that we're all awful? I think not."
Last week, Ross - who is promoting his book Crime and How to Solve It, and Why So Much of What We're Told is Wrong - sparked outrage by suggesting that "provocatively dressed" women who go out "unescorted" were akin to a bank "storing sacks of cash by the door". He claimed that some victims of sexual assault had gone "too far" by leading men on.
His comments were condemned by women's groups as "provocative, crude and really horrible". Writing in The Guardian, Martin Robbins described the "provocative clothing" myth as complete nonsense and said Ross's views on rape were "not just misguided, but downright dangerous".
Ross, who left Crimewatch in 2007 after 23 years hosting the BBC programme, courted further controversy yesterday by suggesting some races are more likely to commit certain crimes. He denied there is any evidence of institutional racism in the police force, claiming instead that West Indians were simply more likely to mug people. Urging his audience to read his book, Ross said "contact crimes" such as mugging were more prevalent among "some communities from the West Indies".
"Does that mean they're worse than us? No. Does that mean they're less moral, than us? No. It just means they're not very good at pick-pocketing, [so] they do this sort of crime."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Nigel Hamilton's 6 inspirational books for fellow writers
Feature The award-winning author recommends works by John Banville, Ann Patchett, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The winners and losers in Gaetz's rise and fall
The Explainer The implosion of Donald Trump's first pick to run the Department of Justice was part fluke, part feature and part forecast of the president-elect's incoming administration
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
6 outstanding homes for under $600K
Feature Featuring heated concrete floors in New Mexico and an outdoor movie screen in Washington, D.C.
By The Week Staff Published
-
The ongoing nightmare of Chloe Ayling's abduction
In depth The model hopes the BBC's new drama detailing her 2017 kidnapping will finally bring an end to her traumatic ordeal
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Huw Edwards pleads guilty to making indecent images of children
Speed Read 'Chaos' outside Westminster Magistrates' Court before former BBC presenter's hearing
By The Week Staff Published
-
Russell Brand: trial by media?
Comedian denies accusations of sexual assault and rape in joint media investigation
By The Week Staff Published
-
What we know about the Copenhagen mall shooting
Speed Read Lone gunman had mental health issues and not thought to have terror motive, police say
By The Week Staff Published
-
Texas school shooting: parents turn anger on police
Speed Read Officers had to be urged to enter building where gunman killed 21 people
By The Week Staff Published
-
DJ Tim Westwood denies multiple sexual misconduct allegations
Speed Read At least seven women accuse the radio and TV presenter of predatory behaviour dating back three decades
By The Week Staff Published
-
What happened to Katie Kenyon?
Speed Read Man charged as police search for missing 33-year-old last seen getting into van
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Brooklyn subway shooting: exploring New York’s ‘steep decline in law and order’
Speed Read Last week, a gunman set off smoke bombs and opened fire on a rush-hour train in the city
By The Week Staff Last updated