Shop a paedophile to your neighbours and risk jail

Killer: Roy Whiting murdered Sarah Payne in 2000
12 April 2012

Parents who warn their neighbours about a dangerous paedophile living nearby could be jailed under John Reid's new plans to deal with sex offenders.

They could be charged with inciting violence or a disturbance if they pass on any confidential details given them by police.

Campaigners said Mr Reid's proposals – his last major act as Home Secretary – were a shambles. Far from helping worried parents, they will create a dreadful dilemma about warning other families.

The 20-point plan, most of which was leaked in advance of yesterday's statement to Parliament, creates a presumption' that families who ask police about local dangers will be told about any paedophile who could pose a specific threat to their child.

Single mothers will also be able to ask for information on a new partner. But they must all promise not to divulge the information to

anybody else. Maggie Bucknall, of the Campaign Against Paedophile Accommodation, said: It is a disgrace that the very person who is trying to protect her children is the one who could end up in prison. Of course you are going to tell your family and friends.'

But Dyfed Powys chief constable Terry Grange, who leads for the Association of Chief Police Officers on child protection, said that if information was passed on and a mob gathered, the crowd would be arrested and we would look seriously at the individual who provided the information'.

Mr Reid's proposals stop well short of a UK version of Megan's Law, which allows U.S. citizens the right to know the name and address of any paedophile living nearby.

Most parents will have no right to be told even the number of offenders living nearby or on the school run. Even those entitled to the information could have their request refused, as there is simply a presumption' for disclosure. Police – who opposed a Megan's

Law – said information would be given out only if there was a direct threat to a child. Convictions for child porn or other less grave crimes may be kept secret.

As well as the tight limits, the disclosure rules cannot be introduced without legislation and even then there will only be pilot schemes in three areas. It could be years before the rights exist nationwide.

Mr Reid's plan for chemical castration' also attracted criticism as it emerged that the trial of drugs which can reduce a paedophile's sex drive will be voluntary. The attraction to children will return if they stop taking the medication.

Sara Payne, whose daughter Sarah, eight, was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000, said drug treatment should be compulsory. She added: You're placing an honour-based system on people that have already shown they have absolutely no honour.

These are people that rape, molest our children, take photographs of what they're doing.

They've already shown that they are the nastiest people in the world.'

But she welcomed Mr Reid's plans as a massive step forward'.

Although there have been calls for a Sarah's Law, named after her daughter, Mrs Payne stressed: We never asked for a Megan's Law in the country. We never believed it would work. We only ever asked for access to information about predamonitoring-tory paedophiles. I think this will open the door to many more things.'

The NSPCC said it was pleased there would be no Sarah's Law because it could drive paedophiles underground.

Other suggestions made by Mr Reid, who is stepping down this month and must rely on Gordon Brown to implement the changes, include an extension to satellite of paedophiles. They will also be made to take lie detector tests to check they are not planning to re-offend. The details they must give on the Sex Offender Register will be widened to include e-mail and passport details.

There will also be a public awareness campaign to warn that family friends or relatives are statistically the most likely child abusers.

Mr Reid said the package would protect children, but added: The truth is that we can't live in a world without risk. There are bad people about.'

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said ministers had done nothing to close the loophole which let homeless sex offenders give addresses such as a park bench', meaning police could not track them.

He also criticised the failure to implement recommendations about police forces sharing information, made by Sir Michael Bichard after the Soham murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.

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