POLITICANS don’t want a sex- offenders’ register in Guernsey. Deputy Ron Le Moignan made the claim yesterday that while he thought most people would favour such measures, there was not the political will for it.
Many islanders have demanded a register in Guernsey since news of the release of convicted paedophile James Brehaut last week.
The new sex-offenders legislation, which needs to be created before a register, is currently being drafted but Law Officers refused to say how far it was from completion.
A former member of the Scrutiny Committee, Deputy Le Moignan said the level of protection people had from paedophiles should have been looked at years ago.
‘The important thing is the timescale in all this. When the Children Board came under Health and Social Services, one of the issues being looked at was supposed to be a sex-offenders’ register,’ he said.
‘Where is the plan and the structure for protection and prevention?
‘One or two people can’t achieve anything in the States if a department decides not to do anything as there is no way of challenging that.’
Vale deputy Graham Guille agreed with Deputy Le Moignan’s claim that an effective structure of prevention was needed.
‘I would vote for a sex-offenders’ register because I do not want Guernsey to become a soft touch,’ he said.
‘Registered sex offenders in the UK must let the police know of their movements and if Guernsey doesn’t have the same, it could become vulnerable.
‘However, it’s not a black and white issue and I don’t believe a register would completely solve the problem. I don’t know the answer.’
However, Home member Deputy Francis Quin said he did not agree that there was not the political will for such a register.
‘We must first get the new sex- offenders’ legislation in place. It’s extremely complicated and it’s something that we have to wait for.’
St Peter Port deputy Barry Brehaut said he feared a register could drive paedophiles underground, as it had in the USA.
‘Everyone is concerned if there are paedophiles in the community. I have two children and every parent feels strongly about this,’ he said.
‘But if you actively seek persecution of these individuals, there is the risk that they will become more secretive in their behaviour and the problem could become exacerbated.
‘It’s among us and it has to be managed. As unsavoury as it is, we need to keep in contact with these people on a professional level.’
St Sampson’s deputy Sam Maindonald said she believed the professionals in Guernsey were on top of the situation.
‘Nevertheless, we know from worldwide reports that paedophilia is on the increase, so we can’t be complacent,’ she said.
‘We have to be careful in the way that matters are dealt with to ensure that children remain the highest priority’.
Meanwhile, NSPCC Guernsey has published a list of the signs of abuse typically displayed by victims of paedophiles. It says children often display sexual behaviour that does not seem appropriate for their age and the list also covers warnings of physical and mental abuse.
Running away from home, self-harming, being afraid of parents, growing up in a home where there is domestic violence or living with parents involved in serious drug or alcohol abuse are all potential signs.
Services manager, Mick Dunbar, said victims of child abuse often find it hard to tell an adult.
The Childline Service, now part of the NSPCC, offers someone to turn to for every youngster.
Children can speak to a trained volunteer counsellor who can provide comfort, advice and protection on 0800 1111.
Both the Children Protection Helpline and Childline are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
* For further information, visit www.childline.org. or www.nspcc.org. Anyone with concerns about the welfare of a child should call the NSPCC Child- Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000.
Loading ...
Share this article:
What are these?