A crackdown on child abuse to prevent paedophiles from using manuals advising them on grooming children and evading arrest was revealed yesterday.

The government wants to close a legal loophole that allows sexual predators to produce and possess the “manuals” and to treat such offenders similarly to terrorists.

Intelligence service GCHQ and the National Crime Agency found online examples of the guides in areas of the internet not reachable through normal means which are known as the deep web, the dark internet and darknets.

A new law is expected to be in force before next year’s general election, possibly through and amendment to the Obscene Publications Act 1959.

Crackdowns were announced after it emerged that paedophile teacher William Vahey, who later killed himself, drugged and abused up to 60 boys as young as 10 at a British private school.

Children’s charity NSPCC head Peter Wanless said: “Far more needs to be done — and fast — to tackle online child sex offenders.”