Revealed: How the explosion in convicted sex offenders has sparked a crisis in our jails
Personally I applaud the fact that child sex offenders are finally being brought to justice, even if it has taken many years to achieve it. No – other options than imprisonment need NOT be explored; they should have gone to jail many years ago and any added problems they may suffer are a price they must pay for dodging justice in the past.
And let’s remember that there are still people getting away with these offences, even under the current media spotlight. In my own police area, Dyfed Powys, I know of several historical cases which the police have categorically refused to take up. Now why do you think THAT would be?
As a victim of one of those elderly men currently doing thirteen years in Walton I agree with Mike Sivier NO, other options than imprisonment need NOT be explored. It took me thirty years to walk into a police station. But that is not a reason to let the guilty get a get out of jail free card just because they’re old. When he chose to rape me when I was 7 he knew what the consequences of getting caught would entail yet he chose to rape me anyway. So 3 weeks, 3 months, 3 years or 30 years after the fact. When they finally get caught they should go to jail.
Absolutely. These are NOT harmless old people. They are predators and children are their victims.
There needs to be a complete reappraisal of how alleged sex crimes are reported, recorded and dealt with. Historically, alleged victims go to the Police to report complaints of sexual assault. This needs adjustment if justice is to prevail. A charity needs to be formed – the NSPCC might serve this purpose pro-tem – which will receive allegations of sex crimes and record them. They will then, at the very earliest opportunity because of ‘early complaint rules’, accompany the complainant to a Police station where they will ensure that the complaint is recorded and a crime book reference obtained. The NSPCC (or whoever) will keep a record of these complaints and ensure, by working with the Police and CPS, that the matter is resolved to the complainant’s (and society’s) satisfaction. At the moment no section of Government is entirely on the victim’s side. No system is perfect and no doubt some will immediately see or find weaknesses (I can list some at this moment) but the situation needs to be addressed without delay. I would suggest that this is a positive approach to what is one of the most heinous situations facing Britain(and others) today; paedophiles evading justice. The NSPCC, Mumsnet, the Women’s Institute and others need to be asked for their opinions as to the scheme’s value.
Conversely, there also needs to be robust defences against malicious accusations that are made against the innocent.
As a news reporter I have seen at least one trial of an alleged paedophile that was nothing less than a witchhunt. There was no material evidence whatsoever but the guilty verdict was carried, in my opinion, because jury members thought there must be something in it, otherwise the CPS would not have brought the prosecution – and they were afraid that any other verdict might allow a paedophile back into society. My opinion was that all the evidence was circumstantial and the defendant had been set up by members of the alleged victim’s family who did not like him, and a police officer who had an axe to grind.
No organisation exists to stand up for people who have been wrongly accused of child sex offences and there is no mechanism to fight their side if they want to clear their name.
Accusing a person of paedophilia therefore remains the easiest way to blacken the name of an innocent person – not only ensuring they go to jail but also ensuring that the stain hangs on their character for the rest of their life – whether they deserve it or not.
Now, dear reader, you might think it is strange for me to say all this after I came out so strongly against paedophiles earlier on – but there is no conflict here. Child sex offenders should – indeed, must – be imprisoned. But we must also guard against malicious accusations against the innocent.
Of course there must be. Justice – if it can be found in this truth forsaken Country – needs to be protected. In the case which have outlined , in which you allege perjury, the punishment for conviction in such a case should be such as to make the conspirators truly fearful of the consequences should they be discovered. Nothing less will do – or deter.