WILLIAM GRAHAM AM “MY RESEARCH INTO SARAH’S LAW HIGHLIGHTED DIFFICULTIES OF EFFECTIVELY MONITORING SEX OFFENDERS"

a media release issued on Wednesday 20 December 2006

William Graham (Conservative AM for South Wales East) responding to the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) report on the monitoring of Craig Sweeney:

“I understand the reaction to this report by the mother of the child abducted and abused by Sweeney. However, we must all understand that the Police are fully aware that they must retain total public confidence by ensuring that violent and sexual offenders are monitored and managed effectively”.

“My research into the requirement for a “Sarah or Megan” style law in the UK highlighted wider difficulties in these cases which the pupil may not consider”.

“Identifying offenders increases the threat of vigilante action. This has the unforeseen consequence of sex offenders developing more effective ways of getting in touch with each other, developing more effective co-operation systems to disguise their identities and sharing inappropriate images and criminal activities – hence the alarming increase in internet chat room grooming".

“On the other extreme we have the incidents surrounding the attacks on the home of Dr Yvette Cloete – a specialist registrar in paediatric medicine at the Royal Gwent Hospital – who was forced to flee her home when vandals (confused over the words ‘paedophile’ and ‘paediatrician’) daubed the word ‘paedo’ on the walls and door of her house”.

“The stark reality is that the overwhelming number of acts of child sexual abuse are committed by a family member or someone known to the child”.

“75% of abused children do not tell anyone about this abuse at the time of their being abused. They often wait until they are teenagers or young adults before reporting the crimes committed against them. Therefore the majority of current sex offenders are not being picked-up for their crimes”.

“That is why we must take every opportunity to promote the NSPCC “Don’t Hide It” campaign and show children that they will be listened to, that they must have the confidence to report any aspect of any relationship they are unhappy with”.

Notes for Editors:

William Graham AM presented the following debate at Plenary on 12 July 2006:

WILL A "SARAH’S LAW" PROTECT CHILDREN IN WALES?

During which he acknowledged the advice and information provided by Gwent Police, Dyfed Powys Police and the NSPCC Cymru

William Graham  JP, AM

SPOKESMAN FOR EDUCATION

CONSERVATIVE MEMBER FOR SOUTH WALES EAST