From: "Jeff Wood", [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Living in Dunblane as I did, I spent most of the middle of 1996 with my head
in my hands, literally and metaphorically. However, this expression
penetrated my consciousness, and I wonder if someone could remind us of who
was responsible, and whether they were dealt with at the general election.
The memory was prompted by news of a new witch-hunt against paedophiles. Two
things have happened: first there has been the murder of the little girl
Sarah Payne; second, the News of the World has a new editor.
The parents of the little girl were persuaded to attend police press
conferences day after day during the hunt for their daughter, and finally,
after the body was found the mother made understandable but extreme remarks
about what should be done with child molesters.
Taking her cue, the News of the World editor decided to make her mark by
publishing photographs, names and addresses of convicted child molesters in
the paper, allegedly to alert parents and communities to the presence of
these perverts nearby. No doubt questions of circulation never entered her
pretty head.
The first results are apparent: in today's newspaper there is a report of a
man and his family besieged inside their home. He is innocent of any
offence, but happens to wear a surgical neck brace similar to one of the
offenders pictured. This is apparently sufficient proof for the weak minded
mob outside that he deserves their attentions.
No doubt there will be more cases like this, and in the long-term genuine
offenders will be driven out of their homes, underground and away from their
supervisory regimes, and some will take advantage of the school holidays to
find a child on its own...
For the record, each year there are between 5 and 10 children kidnapped and
murdered each year by strangers. I don't know the number killed by those
caring for them, but suspect it is rather more, and of course there is the
motor car.
According to the National Association for the Care and Rehabilitation of
Offenders, of those child molesters who managed to get on a treatment
programme, some 5% re-offend within a couple of years. Of those who don't
get on a programme the rate is 10 per cent. This strikes me as a pretty low
rate of recidivism. There are individuals who will be permanently dangerous,
but most will be basically sad and fairly easily corrected when caught.
I don't suppose there are many shooters who will be tempted to join in the
current witch-hunt: memories of being on the receiving end will still be
fresh. If you need reasons to ignore or even resist, the previous two
paragraphs may help.
Yours sincerely
Jeff Wood
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