This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6145678.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Track sex offenders 'from space' | Track sex offenders 'from space' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Children's charity Barnardo's is calling on the government to use lie detector tests and satellite tracking to monitor sex offenders. | Children's charity Barnardo's is calling on the government to use lie detector tests and satellite tracking to monitor sex offenders. |
| It claims pilot studies in the UK have shown promising results. | It claims pilot studies in the UK have shown promising results. |
| One such trial found up to 80% of cases showed lie detector tests revealed new information about the offenders' intentions or behaviour. | One such trial found up to 80% of cases showed lie detector tests revealed new information about the offenders' intentions or behaviour. |
| Barnardo's says this helps probation staff assess the risks they pose when they are released from jail better. | Barnardo's says this helps probation staff assess the risks they pose when they are released from jail better. |
| All the indications are that polygraphs can be effective in helping control behaviour. Martin Narey, Barnardo's chief executive href="/1/hi/uk/6147626.stm" class="">Q&A: Monitoring offenders | |
| Barnardo's make the claims in its new report, entitled A Risk Too High? which is published on Tuesday. | Barnardo's make the claims in its new report, entitled A Risk Too High? which is published on Tuesday. |
| It also says such measures will be more effective than the introduction of the proposed Sarah's Law, which would allow parents to learn of registered sex offenders living in their area. | It also says such measures will be more effective than the introduction of the proposed Sarah's Law, which would allow parents to learn of registered sex offenders living in their area. |
| This is because it believes such a law would drive sex offenders away from supervision and into hiding. | This is because it believes such a law would drive sex offenders away from supervision and into hiding. |
| 'False comfort' | 'False comfort' |
| This proposed legislation is named after eight-year-old Sarah Payne, who was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000. | This proposed legislation is named after eight-year-old Sarah Payne, who was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000. |
| Barnardo's chief executive Martin Narey said: "Barnardo's is committed to protecting children from harm, but we feel that a Sarah's Law would offer a false comfort to parents and could put children in more, not less, danger. | Barnardo's chief executive Martin Narey said: "Barnardo's is committed to protecting children from harm, but we feel that a Sarah's Law would offer a false comfort to parents and could put children in more, not less, danger. |
| "That said, the current arrangements for the safe supervision of dangerous offenders need to be strengthened and public confidence restored. | "That said, the current arrangements for the safe supervision of dangerous offenders need to be strengthened and public confidence restored. |
| "Our report outlines how the use of polygraphs and satellite tracking could radically improve the effectiveness of supervision. | "Our report outlines how the use of polygraphs and satellite tracking could radically improve the effectiveness of supervision. |
| "All the indications are that polygraphs can be effective in helping control behaviour. | "All the indications are that polygraphs can be effective in helping control behaviour. |
| In our view, this kind of measure has more of a headline effect than actually being demonstrated to be genuinely effective Justice | In our view, this kind of measure has more of a headline effect than actually being demonstrated to be genuinely effective Justice |
| "I have personally seen their use on sex offenders, spoken to the probation staff who have used this technology in a pilot [study] in the North East, and been impressed by the officers' conviction that it significantly improves the rigour of supervision." | "I have personally seen their use on sex offenders, spoken to the probation staff who have used this technology in a pilot [study] in the North East, and been impressed by the officers' conviction that it significantly improves the rigour of supervision." |
| But human rights group Justice questioned the effectiveness of lie detector tests. | But human rights group Justice questioned the effectiveness of lie detector tests. |
| "We're very doubtful as to any evidence that's been produced to show that it's a reliable method," the group's policy director Eric Metcalfe told BBC News. | "We're very doubtful as to any evidence that's been produced to show that it's a reliable method," the group's policy director Eric Metcalfe told BBC News. |
| "In our view, this kind of measure has more of a headline effect than actually being demonstrated to be genuinely effective." | "In our view, this kind of measure has more of a headline effect than actually being demonstrated to be genuinely effective." |
| Resources call | Resources call |
| Nacro, the crime reduction charity, said it welcomed the Barnardo's report. | Nacro, the crime reduction charity, said it welcomed the Barnardo's report. |
| Paul Cavadino, chief executive of Nacro, said: "Introducing a Sarah's Law would increase the risk to children, not reduce it. | Paul Cavadino, chief executive of Nacro, said: "Introducing a Sarah's Law would increase the risk to children, not reduce it. |
| "Sex offenders would be more likely to move around, change their names and go underground to avoid being identified. | "Sex offenders would be more likely to move around, change their names and go underground to avoid being identified. |
| "This would make it harder to supervise them in treatment programmes. | "This would make it harder to supervise them in treatment programmes. |
| "Increasing resources for the supervision of sex offenders would protect the public far better than a new law which would undoubtedly damage child protection." | "Increasing resources for the supervision of sex offenders would protect the public far better than a new law which would undoubtedly damage child protection." |
| A recent Panorama programme found that paedophiles staying at bail hostels were able to gain access to children, prompting the Home Secretary, John Reid, to order a review into the allegations. | A recent Panorama programme found that paedophiles staying at bail hostels were able to gain access to children, prompting the Home Secretary, John Reid, to order a review into the allegations. |