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/6540749.stm
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Warning on paedophile law trials | Warning on paedophile law trials |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Pilot projects giving parents the right to know if paedophiles are living in their area will endanger the lives of children, a charity has warned. | Pilot projects giving parents the right to know if paedophiles are living in their area will endanger the lives of children, a charity has warned. |
| Barnardo's said the trials would drive child sex offenders underground. | Barnardo's said the trials would drive child sex offenders underground. |
| But Labour MP Dan Norris, whose Wansdyke constituency in Somerset is believed to be one of the trial areas, said the scheme was "common sense". | But Labour MP Dan Norris, whose Wansdyke constituency in Somerset is believed to be one of the trial areas, said the scheme was "common sense". |
| Under the scheme, parents will be told if paedophiles are in the area but will not be told their names and addresses. | Under the scheme, parents will be told if paedophiles are in the area but will not be told their names and addresses. |
| Barnardo's chief executive Martin Narey told BBC News the trials were "very, very bad news". | Barnardo's chief executive Martin Narey told BBC News the trials were "very, very bad news". |
| The Home Office says no official decision has been taken on the exact number of pilot areas or where they will be. | The Home Office says no official decision has been taken on the exact number of pilot areas or where they will be. |
| If they're serial sex offenders, they should be curfewed, be subject to lie detector tests Martin NareyBarnardo's The story of Megan's Law | If they're serial sex offenders, they should be curfewed, be subject to lie detector tests Martin NareyBarnardo's The story of Megan's Law |
| A spokeswoman said it would not comment until its sex offenders review had been published which would not be until May at the earliest. | A spokeswoman said it would not comment until its sex offenders review had been published which would not be until May at the earliest. |
| The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), which is opposed to such a scheme, said there had been no discussions with the Home Office about specific pilot areas. | The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), which is opposed to such a scheme, said there had been no discussions with the Home Office about specific pilot areas. |
| Under the pilot schemes, parents will have the right to find out if there are any paedophiles living in their neighbourhood although their names and addresses will not be revealed. | Under the pilot schemes, parents will have the right to find out if there are any paedophiles living in their neighbourhood although their names and addresses will not be revealed. |
| Single parents will also be allowed to find out if a new partner is on the sex offenders' register. | |
| The pilot is based on Megan's Law in the US, named after Megan Kanka, a seven-year-old who was murdered in the US by a neighbour who was a convicted sex offender. | The pilot is based on Megan's Law in the US, named after Megan Kanka, a seven-year-old who was murdered in the US by a neighbour who was a convicted sex offender. |
| A campaign to launch a "Sarah's Law", a UK version of the legislation, was launched after Sarah Payne was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000. | A campaign to launch a "Sarah's Law", a UK version of the legislation, was launched after Sarah Payne was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000. |
| 'Workable arrangements' | 'Workable arrangements' |
| Mr Narey said "the best way of supervising sex offenders, if they're not in jail, is to keep them under the most meticulous supervision". | Mr Narey said "the best way of supervising sex offenders, if they're not in jail, is to keep them under the most meticulous supervision". |
| These pilots are a very valuable step in the road to making children safer Dan NorrisLabour MP | These pilots are a very valuable step in the road to making children safer Dan NorrisLabour MP |
| He told BBC News: "If they're serial sex offenders, they should be curfewed, be subject to lie detector tests and have staff observing them every single day. | He told BBC News: "If they're serial sex offenders, they should be curfewed, be subject to lie detector tests and have staff observing them every single day. |
| "If paedophiles flee that they become very dangerous indeed." | "If paedophiles flee that they become very dangerous indeed." |
| He added that while parents in Wansdyke might feel "very safe" during the pilot, "parents of children in adjacent constituencies should feel very worried". | He added that while parents in Wansdyke might feel "very safe" during the pilot, "parents of children in adjacent constituencies should feel very worried". |
| "Sound and workable arrangements" for supervision were already in place including head teachers being made aware of the proximity of sex offenders, he said. | "Sound and workable arrangements" for supervision were already in place including head teachers being made aware of the proximity of sex offenders, he said. |
| But children's charity Kidscape said the pilot projects would make parents feel "safer and more confident". | But children's charity Kidscape said the pilot projects would make parents feel "safer and more confident". |
| "It is happening with a great deal of planning and thought, and we will see how it works in these controlled circumstances," director Michele Elliott said. | "It is happening with a great deal of planning and thought, and we will see how it works in these controlled circumstances," director Michele Elliott said. |
| 'Worthwhile' scheme | 'Worthwhile' scheme |
| Mr Norris, who has campaigned for the introduction of such a scheme since 1998, said: "We mustn't duck or shirk our responsibility of protecting children and these pilots are a very valuable step in the road to making children safer. | Mr Norris, who has campaigned for the introduction of such a scheme since 1998, said: "We mustn't duck or shirk our responsibility of protecting children and these pilots are a very valuable step in the road to making children safer. |
| "The truth is there are only so many professional staff who can deal with these people and nobody cares more about their kids than parents or grandparents." | "The truth is there are only so many professional staff who can deal with these people and nobody cares more about their kids than parents or grandparents." |
| Former Acpo president Sir Chris Fox welcomed the scheme but said it would be difficult for police to manage because "a pilot in one area drives the problem to another". | Former Acpo president Sir Chris Fox welcomed the scheme but said it would be difficult for police to manage because "a pilot in one area drives the problem to another". |
| "Secondly, because of the atmosphere of rumour, innuendo and gossip that can develop very quickly when a potential offender is identified to someone," he added. | "Secondly, because of the atmosphere of rumour, innuendo and gossip that can develop very quickly when a potential offender is identified to someone," he added. |
| "However, as long as the pilots are proper ones and are not pre-ordained to give a result then I think they're worthwhile." | "However, as long as the pilots are proper ones and are not pre-ordained to give a result then I think they're worthwhile." |