Sarah's Law

Sara Payne, mother of the murdered Sarah Payne was on the local news there and got me thinking. (I will ask the mods to delete any "paedophiles should be shot" posts so keep this on topic guys please.)

Sarah's Law is mainly about informing parents of any serious sex offenders residing in their local area and bringing in stricter legislation around the Sex Offenders Register.

Since the death of Sarah, a few things have come about such as the need for a convicted sex offender to register at a designated Police Station within 72 hours of conviction or release. They are also required to provide details of change of address and notify Police in the area they intend to move to. Some multi-agency procedures have also been brought into play with regards to the monitoring of sexual offenders.

The one thing that hasn't been brought about is the right for parents to know about sex offenders living in their area. Do the org members think this is for the good or the bad?

Some things about it concern me. Will there just be a blanket release of details of all on the sex offenders register or will it just be "serious" offenders details released?

This concerns me because some people have been placed on the register for relatively minor incidents, such as very minor public indecency. I also know of a guy who picked up a girl in a pub one Saturday night, she told him she was 17. They went back to his, did the deed and then she ran home and told mummy...she was only 15. He was convicted of udnerage sex and was placed on the register.

If his details, for example, were released, then he would be lynched. Maybe even killed.

The other side of the coin concerns me though. What about the mothers and fathers, sisters, brothers etc etc who become enraged by the revelation of a predetor living nearby? The one's who go around to the offenders house, put bricks through the window and then beat up (or worse) the offender? Their lives will be ruined. Decent people, who would never normally do something like that.

I don't know what I think about it all. Just thought it would be interesting to hear everyones views on the matter.

Discuss!

i think it is nothing for the public to be worried about, the police are there to police. As soon as the public start taking things into their own hands it just gets messy.

And some people change and find god and all the other BS, yes it doesn't forgive what they did but it does mean they learn from their mistakes and are trying to move on why should they be re punished for that.

Originally Posted by Milky Bar Kid

The other side of the coin concerns me though. What about the mothers and fathers, sisters, brothers etc etc who become enraged by the revelation of a predetor living nearby? The one's who go around to the offenders house, put bricks through the window and then beat up (or worse) the offender? Their lives will be ruined. Decent people, who would never normally do something like that

yep, like the mob that went and demonstrated outside the paediatricians house

Originally Posted by Milky Bar Kid

This concerns me because some people have been placed on the register for relatively minor incidents, such as very minor public indecency. I also know of a guy who picked up a girl in a pub one Saturday night, she told him she was 17. They went back to his, did the deed and then she ran home and told mummy...she was only 15. He was convicted of udnerage sex and was placed on the register.

If I was a parent I would want to know if I was moving ot an area where, say, Gary Glitter etc lived.

With the example above, perhaps a publically-accessible register should be screened out for the above. Perhaps only repeat or serious offenders should be added.

*Serious is probably the wrong word - is there a scale for the level of danger or to reflect that, using the above example, there are extenating circumstances?

Originally Posted by Kinvig

If I was a parent I would want to know if I was moving ot an area where, say, Gary Glitter etc lived.

With the example above, perhaps a publically-accessible register should be screened out for the above. Perhaps only repeat or serious offenders should be added.

*Serious is probably the wrong word - is there a scale for the level of danger or to reflect that, using the above example, there are extenating circumstances?

There are certainly scales we use to judge the danger of an offender and also the liklihood to re-offend. I mean, in the example I used, and I know the guy personally, there is nothing dangerous about him. He just got drunk and lost his sense of judgement I suppose.

Originally Posted by Kinvig

If I was a parent I would want to know if I was moving ot an area where, say, Gary Glitter etc lived.

With the example above, perhaps a publically-accessible register should be screened out for the above. Perhaps only repeat or serious offenders should be added.

*Serious is probably the wrong word - is there a scale for the level of danger or to reflect that, using the above example, there are extenating circumstances?

But why would you want to know as such, ok, you'd be more careful but mistakes would always be made and the person could offend again, the only difference would be you'd know it was him/her but again it may not have been him/her but everyone would instantly mob to his/her house with no evidence

[Viney]

Its a bad idea. If these people have been convicted, then they have done the time for the crime. If they havent reformed and are still 'Active' then this should be picked up in prision and them not be released.

A said above, letting the public loose would casue all manner of issues and ones that really shouldnt be alowd to happen as much as we would like it to

[Biker Biggles]

When I was a kid it was drummed into us----Dont talk to strangers or have anything to do with them.You can have any amount of Sarah lists but there is no substitute for teaching kids to look out for themselves,and for parents to look out for their kids.There is no hi tech shortcut for this.

[SoulKiss]

This is a prime example where a close relative of a victim of a person affected by a serious crime should NOT be involved in any way with ANY lawmaking process involving the issue.

You just end up with laws that are based on a personal agenda this way...

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

When I was a kid it was drummed into us----Dont talk to strangers or have anything to do with them.You can have any amount of Sarah lists but there is no substitute for teaching kids to look out for themselves,and for parents to look out for their kids.There is no hi tech shortcut for this.