Guest Grim Reaper Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 UK police are mulling over launching an interesting initiative in which paedophiles can avoid a court appearence if they offer themselves and their hard drives up for counselling and erasure/destruction, respectively. According to the BBC, the scheme will target proto-paedophiles in possession of "low-grade paedophilia". Upon surrender to the authorities, the offenders are subject to psychiatric testing to ensure they are no threat to children and, assuming this is the case, cautioned and released. They are, however, placed on the sex offenders' register. The plan's architect, Donald Findlater of child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, believes that "the easy availability of material on the internet has caused a substantial increase in sexual offences against children", and that "exposure to child pornography increases the likelihood of people becoming riskier around children". Maybe so, but will this proposal encourage people to seek help before they become a real danger to children? It's no gun amnesty, that's for certain: you don't just hand over your Russian assault rifle and walk out of the police station, no questions asked. Therein may lie a serious impediment to success. Findlater himself admits that paedophiles "face prosecution and demonisation by the media, if they break cover". Indeed, an individual's presence on the sex offenders' register, whether they've been prosecuted or not, is likely to provoke a violent public reaction as soon as it is discovered. Such rough justice is popular, but it is hardly an ideal atmosphere in which to persuade people to in effect sign up voluntarily for the sex offenders' register. Nevertheless, related pilot schemes can boast some positive results. A helpline run by the Home Office-funded "Stop It Now! project attracted hundreds of calls, among them a man who - after viewing paedophile pictures online - found himself sexually attracted to his kids' friends. Another indulged in a bit of self-therapy by trashing his computer and chucking it into the sea in disgust at his own proclivities. But there's a big difference between calling a helpline and walking into the nearest nick and saying: "I'm a paedophile and here is the evidence". How the police would process such a volunteer? The Home Office grades paedo porn from 1-5, from naked teens at one end of the scale, to abused infants at the other. But John Carr at NCH Action for Children points out that "there is no clear correlation between the seriousness of material on someone's hard drive and the likelihood that they are abusing children". In the end, though, the fate of the proposed amnesty may hinge on a simple matter of police resources. According to one police estimate more than 250,000 British men have used credit cards to get at child net porn. if an amnesty convinces even a small fraction to come forward, it will be worthwhile. The BBC notes that police already hold details of 7,200 "Internet sex offenders" gathered as part of an 1999 investigation into a US-based paedophile "gateway". Most remain at liberty and unchargedThe Register Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expertec Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 A crime is a crime is a crime. Full stop!!! :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 A crime is a crime is a crime. Full stop!!! :angry:Some worse than others though........... :( children don't stand a chance against the strength of an adult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted March 23, 2004 Report Share Posted March 23, 2004 watching the humiliation of Pete townsend 's arrest process now on BBC.....nasty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nellie2 Posted March 23, 2004 Report Share Posted March 23, 2004 I thought he had been exonerated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted March 23, 2004 Report Share Posted March 23, 2004 Its just finished ......he just paid to look at one site but did not download , let off with a caution in the end .... The programmes final conclusion is that " the internet has increased the numbers of paedophiles in the country " ....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurdy Posted March 23, 2004 Report Share Posted March 23, 2004 I found it uncomfortable viewing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted March 23, 2004 Report Share Posted March 23, 2004 me too ......!Dont think I could handle being a copper on that job.....It must twist you ...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intratech Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 Sick :censored: ers. Anyways i'd like to see them locked away where they can do no harm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 I don't even like thinking about this topic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Besty Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 The sickos should be locked away in a hole. The crime they comitted is unforgivable and they should pay for it with their freedom. They should have all rights taken away from them. They make me sick sooooo unbelievably sick. :angry: :censored: :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted March 30, 2004 Report Share Posted March 30, 2004 How tied the police hands are ..........Liberty or protection ...A hard balance to strike ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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