AN OXFORD defence barrister has said proposed tougher sentences for youngsters who film crimes and post them on social media will not act as a deterrent.

Lucy Tapper, head of the crown court department at Reeds Solicitors said new legislation would not add anything to what judges and magistrates already do.

A consultation has been launched proposing stricter sentences to youngsters aged between 10 and 17 who film or photograph their crimes and share the footage on social media sites such as Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter.

Judges and magistrates would be expected to see this as a "serious aggravating feature" when passing sentence.

The Sentencing Council, which has launched the 12-week consultation, said the footage was sometimes used to blackmail or humiliate their victims.

But Ms Tapper said judges and magistrates already class posting pictures or videos of crimes on social media as aggravating factors when imposing sentences.

She said: "The consultation appears to be a move to reflect public opinion, but the reality is that this behaviour is already viewed, quite properly, as a substantial aggravating feature by all judges when dealing with this or any other age group.

"My personal opinion, therefore, is that it adds nothing to what is already being done instinctively in the courts but also to what is already contained in the guidelines."

If the new legislation was adopted, it would be the first time these issue have been explicitly covered in guidelines for dealing with young offenders, although the Sentencing Council said it does not aim to make significant changes to actual sentences.

Ms Tapper said the new measures were unlikely to act as a deterrent because social media is now so entrenched in young people's lives.

But she welcomed the move if it was supported by the public and added: "Social media is so much a part of so many people’s lives and how they express themselves that I do not think it will act as a deterrent either.

"Overall I suspect little will change but if the wider public feel in any way appeased by it being expressly set out then presumably it will be felt to be a worthwhile step."