Is it a good idea for the public to have access to the whereabouts of paedophiles?

Question

It has just been announced that information about suspected paedophiles will be made public. Given the, rightful, angry response and horrifically projected actions of people, in this forum, to offences committed against children, do you think it can be justifiable to allow public information about "suspects" to be made known? I envisage mutilation and even deaths of innocent people, having read the responses, within this forum, from many angry people. You may recall that a paediatrician was the victim of mob violence, not so long ago, because that mob thought him to be a paedophile through their ignorance.

I expect a lot of "hang 'em, mutilate 'em, torture 'em" replies. but it would be good to hear from one or two who think about it!

I should add that I'm in the UK, don't apologise for or approve of paedophilia in any way at all, but do observe the responses that people put in this forum, and they scare me, because innocent people will be among the ones named if they are suspects.

AND you really aren't getting it. The proposal is for SUSPECTED persons to be made public.

Answer 1

Well considering other information about an individuals criminality is covered under the Data Protection Act, personally I would say its a big mistake to publish details of a persons supposed or actual Offences Against Children records.

Before everyone wades in to berate me for 'loving' paedophiles I will add that because someone has a reasoned opinion does NOT mean they approve of another persons behaviours.

I have many years of experience working in the Criminal Justice system, and see the faults and inadequacies of it as well as the positive aspects. To identify people suspected of an offence puts everyone at risk. If a consideration of simple things like a name - in a household you may have a John Smith who is the father, and equally John Smith the son...do I need to explain where a single problem like this may lead?

Everyone deserves to feel safe in society and the most vulnerable in our society need to be protected against those who might choose to hurt or abuse them, but the same people who bay for information and blood for those who perpetrate horrendous crimes, and in this instance sexual crimes against children need to think carefully about exposing the offenders to the public in some sort of witch hunt free for all way.

If you consider that accusations and suposition could put YOU into the bracket of being a 'supposed' paedophile when you may well be innocent, do you still want the lists published.

Oh ... I suppose if you are a supposed paedophile...well there's no smoke without fire eh?

Good Luck people...because if it happens...we are ALL at risk of a stoning!

Answer 2

People with convictions for paedophilia should be on a public list, not suspects. With the edict of 'Innocent until proven guilty.' Also, with the crime being so closely associated with mental illness it's difficult to argue against keeping convicted paedos under clinical supervision until they no longer pose a threat. With most other crimes there can be morally justifiable exceptions i.e. a woman murders her husband because he beats her etc. But, in cases of rape and/or paedophilia there is no real excuse and I think that's why the public response is so strong, add to that the fact that the victims are, by default, young and vulnerable, it throws into the mix a feeling of disgust which can light the touch paper for lynch mob mentality. In my opinion, if the system cannot separate society and those who have chosen to step over the boundaries, for a period of time after which the threat is negated, then society has a right to know who and where the threat is located. If they then overstep the boundaries of law, they will be subject to it in the same way.

Answer 3

The public have every right to know if a paedophile is living in their area. The BBC have done quite a lot of undercover research into the activities of paedophiles who have been released back into the community after serving their prison sentence. They're supposed to report in on a daily basis but often fail to do so and simply disappear. This is not good enough. Something has got to be done about it, but what?

There have been a few cases in the press recently of re-offending paedophiles who have subsequently been caught by the police. Do not know what happened in these cases.

Personally I do not think there is any justification at all for saying that a paedophile can be cured. No such cure in my opinion has ever been proved. It is a myth. Paedophiles remain a lifetime threat to young children and because of this I think it important for the authorities to get on the case and deal with it. Lets get hard on this issue and stop pretending its okay - it is not okay.

Answer 4

I don't think it is a good idea to give the public details of people who are only suspects of this horrible crime.
I can imagine what will happen. No one wants to live next door to a known sex offender.

I have seen what happens to people accused of a sex crime whether they were innocent or not the people who lived near them certainly gave them hell. Smashing the windows trying to burn down the house, throwing stones at his children, in that case the man was innocent and was wrongly accused. But he was driven out of his home by his once so called friends.

If the police take this step to announce to all and sundry I think we will see vigilante type groups going around trying to save us all from the beasts that live among us.

It is a very hard thing to make a decision on as we the public have a right to be safe. But people will take matters into their own hands and deal out their own justice.

I know someone who was put on the sex offenders list as a child who was only 14 at the time of his crime (Flashing) and is still on it now even though he is in his twenties and has never committed a sexual crime, and he gets a lot of abuse from people around him. He has to inform the authorities even if he goes on holiday. He lives a life of unfairness and unequality because of something he did as a child.

Although 9 times out of 10 the system is fair I can see that there are loopholes and some problems that need to be ironed out.

Informing the public is another matter and needs to be well thought out first.

Answer 5

It would be a gross human rights abuse to make public the names and whereabouts of suspected paedophiles. Please note, I said (suspected) because the question posed clearly stated the word suspected.

It is a fact that some women who were sexually abused as children grow up to be man haters and then periodically make false claims of paedophilia against innocent men.

It is also a fact that many of the general public are too stupid and ignorant to be capable of making any kind of fair, accurate or rational judgement regarding who should be lynched, beaten up or killed. Many of these stupid people are on yahoo answers. In fact quite a few of them aswered this question.

It is precisely because of these stupid people that it is too dangerous to disclose too much information about suspected paedophiles because it is a fact that the people who are the most stupid are also the ones most likely to take violent reprisals against an innocent person.

It is wrong to be in a position where it is felt necessary to disclose information about actual paedophiles in the community because if it is proven that they are paedophiles then they should not be in the community at all. Their jail sentences should be permanent.

Answer 6

They should be tied to a chair, then an iron cage full of starving rats is put over their head. And the rats would eat their face off.


Actually the whole subject sickens me. I mean, is paedophilia a NEW thing? did it start recently? No, it has been going on since the beginning of time. But paedophiles are the new witches, to be suspected, tortured and persecuted. It's a horrible crime but society's reaction to SUSPECTS is pretty bad, too.

Answer 7

The question is once a paedophile then always a paedophile? If you think yes, then, of course, they need to be observed but not punished nor persecuted. If statistics show that paedophiles after counseling, jail time etc. no longer have the desires, then no, the society is safe. I think however statistics show that far too often sex offenders return to what they like best and therefore, yes, they should be monitors but not tortured. I do not believe in an eye for an eye but in the New Testament.

Answer 8

I don't even think that actual paedophiles details should be released.

People should be told if one is living in their area but not their names or anything like that. That information would just cause panic and the deviant would just go into hiding where they could do more damage as the authorities wouldn't know where they were.

A person is smart but people are stupid - lets not forget the paediatrician driven out of his home thanks to The Sun's naming and shameing. (which you do mention above)

All children should be told to tell another adult if someone touches the in the swimsuit area. Or if someone makes them feel ill at ease. Child abuse is usually perpetrated but trusted family friends.

And adults need to remember that children should always be trusted and never forced to interact with those who make them uneasy.

Answer 9

I feel that any information pertaining to the well-being of children should be made public. The well-being of the so called pedophiles is irrelevent, anyone that has displayed this inappropriate behavior should be expectant of society's remarks and reactions. However, if the person IS innocent, I feel that they should be kept on close surveilence and protected until they are officially pronounced either guilty or innocent in court and by supporting proof of their status.

Answer 10

Is a sad state of affairs, when violent, sexual, murderous people are given lighter sentences than perhaps someone with a drug problem. I afraid US and UK will have to fight off all the barbarians of the world. How about the people who justify their cruelty behind religion? I for one, would want to know if an Al-quaeda member has moved into my neighborhood!!! So, yes, I think that if pedo get out of jail period, should invest in a cave in Montana!