Convicted paedophiles in Britain may have to register their e-mail addresses and online nicknames with police under new laws designed to protect children using the internet.
Home Secretary John Reid said child sex offenders should have more details recorded on the Sex Offenders Register in an attempt to stop them from "grooming" children online.
"If they give us false details of their name and address they can be punished by up to five years in prison," Mr Reid said.
"What I want to explore is to see whether we can have the same requirement for email addresses and Web identities."
A system may be developed that would detect offenders trying to use the registered details to visit websites where they could target children, he said.
Under current laws, sex offenders must register their name, address and national insurance number with police within three days of conviction or release from prison.
They have to confirm their details every year and tell police if they plan to travel abroad for more than three days. Officers are allowed to take a photograph or the fingerprints of sex offenders on the register.
The dangers of internet paedophiles were highlighted this week when three men were jailed for conspiring to kidnap and rape two girls they hoped to meet in internet chatrooms.
PA