General Chat

My biggest fear being a parent of a 9 yr old and a 2 1/2 year old is pheodaphiles. This sweeney character who got a short jail term, beggars belief. I have so many sleepless nights cos of these people out there. I totally support Sarah Payne and her cause. I would want to know if these people are living near me. I'm not saying I would don a vigilanti hat, but i find it's also a catch 22 situation, cos if you found one living near you, how can you then let you kid play out? This means you can't live a normal life, cos your always worried. What are your views? Know it's a bit late for a deep discussion, but it has bothered me all day. catherine xx

Im with you on this Catherine you should know if one is living near you.I suppose everybody is worth a second chance but it happens so often with these people that they abuse it. Very difficult one because somebody may be trying to go 'Straight' for want of a better word and is hounded by locals. Sorry for being contradictory but Im just trying to see another side of it! But agree if one was near my children or grandchildren Id like to know! Davexxx

My biggest fear is that they are allowed out in the community. I would estimate that a high proportion of the Voting Public (Parents) would want to see appropriate sentences handed out, and paedophiles locked up. So why are the Politicians not listening to the will of the people.

Well according to some psychiatrists they don't see that they are doing anything 'wrong' in their minds and they can't be cured or changed ................

personally i say castrate the lot of them. having survived a similar thing i would want to know if there was one in my area. but as has been already said what would u do then. cant say id react well but also would like to think i would don the sensible hat instead and just keep a vigilant eye on my kids. its a vicious circle and there doesnt seem to be an easy answer to any of it .

I compleatly understand the want to protect my kids ( to my death) I am also concerned about the ' what if he's really inocent' & no one can say that its impossible.There are too many casses of miscarriage of justice. Whilst I (like most parents ) feel sick at the very idea -i am concerned as to what happens if someone is convicted (wrongly) then they & their families lives are ruined & if a list is made for public viewing then these people have just about had it.Their lives would not be worth living because as much as people might just believe them there would possible be a doubt in their mind & as for those who did not believe them ,then well some might tolerate but as for the actions of others............................ I except that the chances of this happening are reasonably remote but .. what if ? I personally do not allow my children to be in a situation where i cannot see them or have complete trust in the few people that my kids go to. Whilst i do accept that it is not always practical for this to be the case especially as they grow older i do maintain that awareness of your children is paramount. Godness know if this all make sence but its the way i feel & iI appologise for spelling/gramatical mistakes.

In the 19th and early 20th century, Doctors and various other learned people, believed sincerely that it was possible to 'treat' and 'cure' homosexuals. We now know that was utter rubbish and a waste of time and effort - your sexuality is what it is, and you cannot change it. (I am not in ANYWAY comparing homosexuality to paedophilia, just using this as an example of how pointless is the effort to change anyone's basic sexual orientation). We now have a group of people who equally earnestly believe that paedophiles can be treated and cured. I do not believe this is possible and my personal opinion is that these people should be permanently removed from society, if not in prison, then in isolated communities. I dont give a damn about THEIR human rights - if a dog savages a child, it doesnt get a second chance. Why take the risk with these men? Olde Crone

Is Megan's Law where addresses of people on the Sex Offenders Register would be made public or does it just relate to paedophiles? People can be on the register for technicalities such as a 19 yr old who slept with a 15 yr old who lied about their age. Can be a very grey area and it seems harsh for them all to be lumped together. I remember the rioting in (Southampton?) where a paediatrician's house was attacked because the mobs didn't know the difference. I'm not sure if this should be made available to the public anyway.The argument against this sort of thing is that it would send paedophiles underground. I'd much rather see more suitable sentencing in the court system.

Yeah I agree David, proper sentencing is the correct route, but as this sweeney character proves, sentencing is not working. Mabe his case is a one off, but then are you not gonna get other pedo's quoting his case and his jail term? catherine xx

If I knew of one living near me, I would not take any action against him except to explain to him very carefully what I could do with a pair of secateurs should he not behave.. Len

David Megan's Law applies only to convicted paedophiles who have served a jail sentence. Of course, for every paedophile who is caught and sent to jail, there are a hundred roaming free... Olde Crone

Yes agree with David Owen, My brother in law was an hospital officer at Risley Remand Centre. A convicted paedophile came to him a month before he was due to be released! and said Id like to be castrated, My BIL said the law of this country doesnt allow that! The paedophile said but I cant help myself I need some help. Dave

Is it not more in the mind though Dave than in the pants? catherine xx

Yes sure it is Catherine! but I think they are sick but that is no excuse I know! Dave

We would not need Megan's law if we kept them in prison and a life sentence meant life. Ann

If, god forbid, the father of my children turned out to be a paedophile, I would rapidly change my name and that of my children and hightail it out of his life. And self control never works very well in the field of human sexuality. Olde Crone

I'm not really sure how I feel about this. A while ago the News of the World 'named and shamed' some paedophiles and published the photograph of an innocent man. A paediatrician had his house attacked by people too stupid to know the difference. between the two categories. Paedophiles (and others convicted of sexual offences) are more likely to re-offend than any other category of prisoner so something has to be done. I've wondered if it would be possible to classify paedophilia as a mental illness rather than a criminal offence. Those convicted of crimes have to have a limit to the sentences they serve, as life never means life in our judicial system. If these people can be said to be suffering from a mental illness they can be sectioned under the mental health act and detained until they are no longer a danger to the public. Which in my view would be for life. Having said that is it wrong to be too afraid of random strangers grabbing children from the street. Statistics show that most abused children were abused by people they knew and trusted - family members, friends of the family, teachers, youth workers and the clergy. Gwynne

Good thread this Catherine very topical ,and differing views! Davex

I may get shot down for this, but, I think paedophiles should have tracking devices so the authorities know exactly where they are. Too many innocent young lives are taken because of them and many more suffer all their lives. I remember when Megans Law came out in the US and thought then, thats what should happen here. Too much 'tippytoeing' in this country. Heather x

Good idea that Heather are they not tagged? Davex