A gap in the law means there are circumstances, such as when there is no conviction, when police have to return possessions from which it might be possible to retrieve pictures.
Pamela Dow, campaigns officer for ChildLine, said: "Every single pornographic image of a child means a child has been abused or tortured - the rights of the victims whose abuse is portrayed in these images must remain paramount."
The plans are one of many recent law and order announcements. Home Office minister Hazel Blears wants to give prisoners' children extra support to prevent them ending up in jail.
Meanwhile, the Tory leader Michael Howard has put forward his crime strategy, which states that discipline in school is essential if children are to learn respect for authority from an early age.
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