An offender's organisation has attacked calls for paedophiles to have automatic life sentences.

Both Labour and the Conservative Party have lent their support to the idea but the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders says that it could lead to more children being murdered.

In a rare act of consensus, the two political parties have supported the idea in the wake of the murder of schoolgirl Sarah Payne and the subsequent name and shame saga that has resulted in mobs of vigilantes attacking the homes of known paedophiles across the country.

Although a mandatory life sentence would not necessarily mean that a sex offenders would never be released, it would close a loophole in the current laws which allow sex offenders to be released from jail even though they are known to present a continuing risk to children.

Both Tory leader William Hague and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott have lent their support to the life sentence idea.

But NACRO says it is not the answer. "If offenders know that what awaits them is a life sentence, what's to stop them murdering the child?" commented a spokesman.

He said there was also a chance that mandatory life sentences would also lead to more 'not guilty' pleas and fewer convictions, leaving paedophiles free to commit more crimes.

Instead NACRO is calling for reviewable sentences which would prevent offenders who still pose a risk from being released.

What do you think should happen to child sex offenders? Contact us and let us know.

Top

Back to news index