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/6156712.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
Missing paedophiles named online | Missing paedophiles named online |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Some of the UK's most wanted child sex offenders have been identified online. | |
It is believed to be the first time that details of convicted paedophiles have been published nationwide by Britain's law enforcement agencies. | It is believed to be the first time that details of convicted paedophiles have been published nationwide by Britain's law enforcement agencies. |
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) centre has set up the new website in an effort to track missing child sex offenders. | |
Meanwhile, single mothers could be able to check up on new partners to see if they are sex offenders under new plans. | |
The Home Office is considering proposals that would enable single mothers to ask the police to make the checks, which would have to be supported by reasonable grounds for suspicion. | |
It is known that predatory paedophiles often befriend single mothers as a way of gaining access to their children. | |
SARAH'S LAW Sarah Payne, eight, (above) was murdered by paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000News of the World led a campaign to give parents the same rights as in the USIn the US there is full public disclosure about released sex offendersMegan's Law was inspired by the murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka by a known paedophile in July 1994 | |
High profile cases such as the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne by a known paedophile in 2000 has led the government to review policy on how much information should be disclosed to the public about sex offenders living in the community. | |
The new website marks another step in making information public and it pictures offenders who have already been punished and then disappeared. | |
Breaching the conditions of the sex offenders' register is an arrestable offence punishable with up to five years in prison. | |
The website has published the details of five missing offenders, giving their names, ages, photograph and where they have gone missing from, but not the details of their convictions. | The website has published the details of five missing offenders, giving their names, ages, photograph and where they have gone missing from, but not the details of their convictions. |
The five men named on the website are Alexander Colin Dalgleish, aged 30-35, Gordon Stewart, 25-30, Paul Turner (also known as Paul Francis or Geddes), 50-55, Joshua Karney, 25-30, who also goes by five other names, and Kamil Krawiec, 25-30. | |
The scheme is being run with the Crimestoppers Most Wanted site, which is designed to help track down Britain's most dangerous criminals who are on the run. | The scheme is being run with the Crimestoppers Most Wanted site, which is designed to help track down Britain's most dangerous criminals who are on the run. |
Mistaken identity | |
Jim Gamble, chief executive of the CEOP Centre, said the Crimestoppers' website had enjoyed "unprecedented" success in tracking down offenders and the new site aimed at protecting the public. | |
Police forces had published similar information before but this was the first nationwide approach, he said, and the public needed to act responsibly. | Police forces had published similar information before but this was the first nationwide approach, he said, and the public needed to act responsibly. |
"They must make immediate reports of sightings so that the police can take appropriate action. | "They must make immediate reports of sightings so that the police can take appropriate action. |
"Any vigilante activity will be robustly dealt with and is likely to constitute a criminal offence." | "Any vigilante activity will be robustly dealt with and is likely to constitute a criminal offence." |
The website will identify paedophiles who have gone missing | The website will identify paedophiles who have gone missing |
Below pictures of the men, the website says mistaken identity has occurred in the past and warns against people taking the law into their own hands. | |
Stuart Kuttner, managing editor of News of the World which has campaigned for parents to know if a paedophile lives in their area, welcomed the news. | |
The paper wants Sarah's Law, named after Sarah Payne, and the full public disclosure on released sex offenders as exists in the US. | |
Megan's Law was introduced there after the murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka by a known paedophile in July 1994. | |
Caution | |
Law enforcement agencies have previously avoided identifying paedophiles for fear of inviting vigilante attacks with the result of having them driven underground. | Law enforcement agencies have previously avoided identifying paedophiles for fear of inviting vigilante attacks with the result of having them driven underground. |
Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the Probation Union NAPO, sounded a note of caution about wrong identification and vigilante action. | Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the Probation Union NAPO, sounded a note of caution about wrong identification and vigilante action. |
"People who are already missing may further go to ground if they think that the public may engage in vigilante action." | |
The CEOP site coincides with the first anniversary of the Crimestoppers site, which went live last November, receiving almost 40 million hits and leading to 24 arrests. | The CEOP site coincides with the first anniversary of the Crimestoppers site, which went live last November, receiving almost 40 million hits and leading to 24 arrests. |