News & Politics - Paedophiles' details made available

welshgirlyUK · 09-15-2008, 04:14 AM

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Parents in some areas will be able to ask police if anyone with access to their child is a convicted paedophile.
Details about child sex convictions will be revealed under a Home Office pilot scheme if police think a child may be in danger.

Twelve-month trials are being held in Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Stockton in Cleveland and Warwickshire and could be extended across the country if successful.

The trials are a response to calls for a "Sarah's Law" that allows more information to be published about where paedophiles live. The campaign followed the brutal murder of Sarah Payne by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting. In America, "Megan's Law", named after the child victim of a repeat sex offender, allows the publication of names, addresses and pictures of paedophiles in some states.

Fears were raised such a law could lead to vigilante attacks and drive paedophiles underground. Under the new scheme any parent sharing the information given to them could face civil or criminal penalties.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the pilots were a "huge step forward". "There are few crimes more damaging, more emotive and more sensitive than sexual offences against children. I want to see every child living their lives free from fear," she said.

"Giving parents the ability to find out if someone close to their child poses a risk will empower them. With the help and support of police and other agencies, it will also help them to understand how to better protect their children."

Sara Payne, Sarah's mother, welcomed the moves, but said there was "far more still more to be done".

"I am very pleased to have been part of the pilot schemes set up to put the protection of children first. I am also very pleased that we as a society will no longer be part of the secret-keeping culture so crucial to the sex offenders' ability to offend.

"This is a giant step towards truth and honesty when dealing with sex offenders and all we need now is for local communities up and down the UK to help make this work. It has been a long journey to get to this point and I finally feel the wind of change, but make no mistake, there is far more still to be done."

Source.

It's felt like its been coming for a long time, it's not quite Sarahs law yet like people have been calling for since Sara began the petition and i'm not sure it ever will be. I dont think the EU will allow it on the grounds of human rights.

**TheAngel** · 09-15-2008, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshgirlyUK (View Post)

Source.

It's felt like its been coming for a long time, it's not quite Sarahs law yet like people have been calling for since Sara began the petition and i'm not sure it ever will be. I dont think the EU will allow it on the grounds of human rights.

I strongly believe that anyone that has assaulted, especially sexually assaulted, a child, has proven that they are not human and therefore their human rights should be null and void. But I have a very strong opinion on the subject very much in favor of the victim and against the criminal so I might not be the best resource to come up with a fair solution to the problem.

welshgirlyUK · 09-15-2008, 06:28 AM

Yeah i agree, but unfortunately the EU are human rights crazy, often to the detriment of victims. I find the European human rights board more than a little ridiculous. I hate that they can overturn parliaments decisions too at the European court of human rights. It's in situations like these when you see just how mad PC has gotten. However, this does seem a step in the right direction.

**sunnykerr** · 09-15-2008, 06:25 PM

I agree that sex offenders (inasmuch as we're talking about real sex offenders and not children horsing around or boyfriends sleeping with their consenting girlfriends) forfeit their right to privacy.

The only thing I would add is that there are all kinds of sociopaths in this world. And while I agree that sex offenders should absolutely be identified clearly for all parents to know, I'm sure there are sociopaths out there who would take advantage of the situation to violate the sex offender's right to privacy...

If that makes any sense...

My point being that I think everything should be done to arm parents and responsible adults. I also think that people who harass other people should be held to the same level of legal reprisal regardless of who it is they're harassing.

welshgirlyUK · 09-16-2008, 06:51 AM

I see what your saying, like how some people would just use that information as an excuse to cause a fracas.

**Cristofle** · 09-16-2008, 05:44 PM

Actually, I can't honestly claim to care if a convicted child molestor is being harassed. More power to whoever is doing the harassing. That seems like a community service to me.

But I also admit to having extremely strong feelings on this. I think that's the lowest form of criminal. I don't even view them as human anymore- I have no sympathy for them for any reason.

welshgirlyUK · 09-17-2008, 04:26 AM

I see what your saying and a lot of people hold the same view, but i think the point being made, is that the people who then use that information to cause a vigilante against the sex offender would have to be arrested and then that person will be penalised for those actions for the rest of their life.

Myself personally, i dont think paedophiles should ever be allowed out of prison and back into society and therefore we'd never have to come up against these issue and have a need for a Sarahs law.

**Cristofle** · 09-17-2008, 09:21 PM

I agree that conviction of pedophilia should come with a mandatory life sentence. How can we put these people back out into society with even a 1% chance- and it's a lot higher than a 1% chance- that they could continue to prey on children? It's our responsibility as adults to protect children. Not those who would prey on them.

welshgirlyUK · 09-18-2008, 06:15 AM

I completly agree. I know the cost of holding a prisoner in jail for an actual life sentence is costly, but i think i'd rather pay that price than risk subjecting a child to one of the most henious crimes there is.

**sunnykerr** · 09-18-2008, 06:53 PM

I have to say that I'm pretty much in agreement: Put them in jail and throw away the key. I don't see how someone who looks at a child and someone sees something sexual there can ever re-enter society safely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cristofle (View Post)

Actually, I can't honestly claim to care if a convicted child molestor is being harassed. More power to whoever is doing the harassing. That seems like a community service to me.

The thing is that, in theory, you and I aren't far apart in our positions. I don't believe that pedophiles deserve to have their privacy respected either. At the very least, not at the expense of children's safety.

I just think that a crime is still a crime when it's being perpetrated against a criminal.

I also think that some people are so zealous in their mission to expose pedophiles (and a righteous mission that is) that the will harrass the person's home, the person's church, the person's parents... and it will all be the same to them.

So, yeah, tell every parent and watchdog organization where the pedophiles live. I have no issue with that. None whatsoever.

But a crime is still a crime when the victim is a criminal.

That's all.