Can a local council really bring in its own 'Sarah's Law'?
- From: Cub Reporter <me@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:05:59 +0100
Or is it all just hot air from the borough of Barking (mad)?
News article:
========================================
PAEDOPHILE LAW REJECTED
Barking and Dagenham Post, UK: 30 April 2007
http://www.bdpost.co.uk/content/barkinganddagenham/post/news/story.aspx?brand=BDPOnline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsbdp&itemid=WeED30%20Apr%202007%2012%3A23%3A24%3A020
[ http://tinyurl.com/28npnr ]
A LAW to identify paedophiles and sex offenders was thrown out by
councillors - just one week before the government put in place a pilot
scheme allowing information for single mothers.
At the last Assembly meeting, councillors rejected a motion to
implement Sarah's Law - named after tragic Sarah Payne, seven, who was
murdered by convicted paedophile Roy Whiting in 2000.
Days later, however, central government announced three pilot schemes
that will allow single mothers to check if a partner has a criminal
record for child abuse.
Speaking at the recent Assembly meeting, Cllr Christine Knight
motioned "That the council accept in principle and lead the way in
introducing Sarah's law in the borough".
Despite backing from fellow party members and Tory Neil Connelly, the
Labour party defeated the motion.
Cllr Connelly, who went against his party's advice to show support,
said: "I feel very strongly that all children in the borough and
elsewhere are kept safe.
"For bad things to happen it only takes a good man to do nothing -
that's why I'm voting for Sarah's Law."
After arriving at their decision, the executive member for children's
services explained that proper measures were already in place to
safeguard children.
Cllr Jeanne Alexander said: "There are Multi Agency Public Protection
Arrangements to monitor the activities of registered sex offenders.
"These arrangements involve close working relationships between the
police, probation, health, victim support services and the council.
"The council is determined to keep children and young people safe and
is satisfied the multi-agency arrangements are robust.
"Disclosures of sex offenders can place these multi agency
arrangements at risk by forcing offenders to go underground and
perpetrate further."
Sarah's Law has met with controversy ever since a national newspaper
launched their campaign seven years ago.
Opposition to the scheme includes Barnardo's children's charity.
Chief executive Martin Narey voiced concerns that sex offenders would
be driven underground - away from the supervision of probation
officers.
.
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