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/6746965.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Sex crime drug treatments planned | Sex crime drug treatments planned |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Plans to offer more drug treatments to sex offenders to try to stop them committing more crimes are being announced by the Home Office. | Plans to offer more drug treatments to sex offenders to try to stop them committing more crimes are being announced by the Home Office. |
| The treatment involving libido-reducing drugs or anti-depressants would be given on a voluntary basis. | The treatment involving libido-reducing drugs or anti-depressants would be given on a voluntary basis. |
| Parents will also be able to ask for checks on whether new partners or people dealing with their children are known sex offenders. | Parents will also be able to ask for checks on whether new partners or people dealing with their children are known sex offenders. |
| But the Home Office says details will not be available to the wider public. | But the Home Office says details will not be available to the wider public. |
| Convicted paedophiles might also be subjected to lie detector tests if there is a suspicion they are targeting children. | Convicted paedophiles might also be subjected to lie detector tests if there is a suspicion they are targeting children. |
| Some of them [sex offenders] are desperately struggling with what's going on in their lives, and want help to be stopped Donald Findlater, Lucy Faithfull Foundation onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({storyId:6747819, fileLoc: '/player/nol/newsid_6740000/newsid_6747800/', nbram: 1,nbwm: 1,bbwm: 1,bbram: 1});return false;" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6740000/newsid_6747800?redirect=6747819.stm&news=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1&bbram=1">Dr Donald Findlater | |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair told MPs during Commons questions that allowing parents to find out if people in close contact with their children were sex offenders was "a sensible, worthwhile step forward". | |
| And Home Secretary John Reid told BBC News: "Prison and punishment should take place when people are guilty of child offences but in addition to that we need, after that, to treat them, to supervise them and to share information." | |
| Some of the most persistent sex offenders are already offered drug treatment, but the Home Office says this provision could be increased. | Some of the most persistent sex offenders are already offered drug treatment, but the Home Office says this provision could be increased. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Any measure that reduces the risk of children being abused is welcome The Pulse Send us your comments | |
| Mr Reid said sex offenders would be offered drug treatment on a voluntary basis alongside other measures, including supervision. | Mr Reid said sex offenders would be offered drug treatment on a voluntary basis alongside other measures, including supervision. |
| "The evidence suggests that it's far more effective and only really effective if someone is getting this treatment voluntarily, as part of a treatment course." | "The evidence suggests that it's far more effective and only really effective if someone is getting this treatment voluntarily, as part of a treatment course." |
| He said allowing everyone to have access to information about sex offenders - a measure known as Megan's or Sarah's Law - could drive paedophiles underground, so he had decided on a "middle way". | He said allowing everyone to have access to information about sex offenders - a measure known as Megan's or Sarah's Law - could drive paedophiles underground, so he had decided on a "middle way". |
| This allows "vulnerable people, especially young single parents with young families" to find out whether a new partner or other adult who came into contact with their children was a sex offender. | This allows "vulnerable people, especially young single parents with young families" to find out whether a new partner or other adult who came into contact with their children was a sex offender. |
| 'No honour' | 'No honour' |
| Dr Donald Findlater, director of research and development at the child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, said: "I think we have this notion that all sex offenders want to do bad things all the time. Some of them are desperately struggling with what's going on in their lives, and want help to be stopped. | |
| "Some of them have been very enthusiastic about participating in lie detector tests, and indeed would happily take pills if that will help." | "Some of them have been very enthusiastic about participating in lie detector tests, and indeed would happily take pills if that will help." |
| Sara Payne, whose daughter Sarah was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting seven years ago, told the BBC that drug treatment should be compulsory. | Sara Payne, whose daughter Sarah was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting seven years ago, told the BBC that drug treatment should be compulsory. |
| "You're placing an honour based system on people that have already shown they have absolutely no honour. | "You're placing an honour based system on people that have already shown they have absolutely no honour. |
| The murder of Sarah Payne in 2000 prompted calls for new laws | |
| "These are people that rape, molest our children, take photographs of what they're doing. | "These are people that rape, molest our children, take photographs of what they're doing. |
| "They've already shown that they are the nastiest, I think the nastiest, people in the world because of what they do to children." | "They've already shown that they are the nastiest, I think the nastiest, people in the world because of what they do to children." |
| The review is expected to recommend that parents, for the first time, could have access to information on convicted paedophiles. | The review is expected to recommend that parents, for the first time, could have access to information on convicted paedophiles. |
| For example, mothers could request a police check if they have concerns about a new boyfriend. | For example, mothers could request a police check if they have concerns about a new boyfriend. |
| At the moment, employers can request a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check if a potential employee is going to work with children, while private citizens cannot. | At the moment, employers can request a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check if a potential employee is going to work with children, while private citizens cannot. |
| Three pilot areas are expected to be set up. | Three pilot areas are expected to be set up. |
| Widespread access to details about sex offenders, as seen in the US, has been ruled out by the Home Office. | Widespread access to details about sex offenders, as seen in the US, has been ruled out by the Home Office. |
| The US law, known as Megan's Law, named after Megan Kanka, seven, who was killed by a convicted sex offender, gives parents access to names and addresses of known paedophiles. | The US law, known as Megan's Law, named after Megan Kanka, seven, who was killed by a convicted sex offender, gives parents access to names and addresses of known paedophiles. |
| A campaign to launch a "Sarah's Law" - a UK version of the legislation - was launched after Sarah Payne's murder in 2000. | A campaign to launch a "Sarah's Law" - a UK version of the legislation - was launched after Sarah Payne's murder in 2000. |
| 'Strained' services | 'Strained' services |
| Children's charity NSPCC said it was pleased there would be no Sarah's Law because it could drive paedophiles underground. | Children's charity NSPCC said it was pleased there would be no Sarah's Law because it could drive paedophiles underground. |
| And it warned that opening up the information on offenders could stretch resources for looking after the 30,000-odd offenders living outside prison. | And it warned that opening up the information on offenders could stretch resources for looking after the 30,000-odd offenders living outside prison. |
| It also called for clear guidelines to prevent inappropriate information being released. | It also called for clear guidelines to prevent inappropriate information being released. |
| Director Dame Mary Marsh said: "Investigating reports of sexual offences against children, bringing offenders to justice and managing them when released into the community is placing severe strain on agencies." | |
| Steve Bevan, from Survivors Swindon, which helps men who have been sexually abused, said people had a right to know where sex offenders were living. | |
| He said: "We could actually run this quite easily, we've just been given another excuse to, that we're not being trusted to have this information." | |
| A wider publicity campaign will also be promised by the government to remind people that 90% of child sex abuse is carried out by someone known to the family. | |