Nadim Associates

Nadim Associates News

Do You Want to Be In My Gang? - The Home Secretary Hops aboard the Paedophile Band Wagon
1st September 2008

Those of you who heard the news this morning might have been forgiven for thinking that the rules regarding sex offenders had been changed to coincide with the return of Paul Gadd (also known as Gary Glitter) who has just been released from a Thai Prison having served a sentence for child sexual abuse. Glitter is now holed up in a Bangkok Airport in an attempt to avoid his return to these shores and the fate Ms Smith has in mind for him.

What ever Mr. Glitter thinks, Jacqui Smith’s announcement is not all that it might seem; some might say it lacks the sparkle she attached to it. In fact all she did was to announce an intention to legislate, which smacks of political opportunism of the very worst kind. If the Home Secretary has to hop aboard the Paedophile band wagon to demonstrate her worth the Government must be in far more trouble than I thought and the rest of us will have to wrestle with the question as to whether Glitter or Smith is the more morally corrupt as both seem to have been exploiting paedophillia for their own ends.

If we have any contact from worried clients who suspect their passports will be seized and that they will be subjected to greater reporting restrictions the advice should be the rules have not changed yet, but Jacqui Smith might change them through legislation in the future when she will no doubt make further announcements.

The full text of the Home Office press release is as follows:

Tougher Measures For Child Sex Offenders
20 August 2008
New measures to strengthen restrictions against child sex offenders and build on the UK’s existing tough regime were announced today by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
The UK is widely recognised as a world leader in efforts to target, manage and rehabilitate sex offenders while maximising public safety.
Today’s measures include:

    * Removing the need for recent evidence when the police are seeking a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO);
    * Requiring registered sex offenders to notify the police earlier of their intentions to travel abroad;
    * Automatic removal of an individual’s passport when they are subject to a blanket Foreign Travel Order;
    * Extending the duration of a Foreign Travel Order from the current six months.

The Home Secretary is also considering and will seek views on the following:

    * Further restrictions on passport issuance and validity;
    * Raising the upper age limit in respect of the child at risk (from 16 to 18) to allow for a Foreign Travel Order to be made for this age group in certain specified circumstances.

The changes follow consultation with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Agency (CEOP) and the police.
Home Secretary's statement
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:
“The UK has a rigorous system in place for managing child sex offenders which is among the toughest in the world. The changes I’m announcing today will strengthen that even further.
“I want to see anyone who poses a threat to our children dealt with as firmly as possible. I’ve spoken to child protection experts and the police and they have told me that these changes will further restrict the ability of child sex offenders to harm children both here and overseas.
“I will legislate for these measures as soon as possible.”
Existing arrangements
Anyone convicted of a child sex offence automatically goes on the Sex Offenders Register. The severity of their sentence affects their duration on the register.
Multi-Agency Public Protection Agencies (MAPPA) oversee the offender after their release from custody. MAPPA draws together the police, probation service, prison service and other agencies.
The police can apply for a Sexual Offences Prevention Order or a Foreign Travel Order in individual cases to prevent the offender from committing further sexual offences either here or against children abroad.
Notes to Editors

    * Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs) require evidence, showing that such an order is necessary to protect the public, from within the last six months. For certain sex offenders who are in custody, that time limit can make it difficult for the police to obtain the necessary evidence.
    * Foreign Travel Orders prevent individuals from travelling overseas at all or to specified countries. Previously there has been no requirement for people prohibited from any travel outside the UK under one of these Orders to surrender their passports.
    * Foreign Travel Orders currently last for six months. We are considering extending them to a maximum duration of five years. We are also considering whether changes should be made in respect of passports for offenders convicted overseas.
    * The Government will seek to legislate for those measures which require primary legislation as soon as possible.

James Parry
Solicitor Advocate
Director
Nadim Associates Solicitors Limited

E mail:           jamesparry@solicitorslaw.com
Telephone:   0845 026 4410
Fax:               0151 652 3988

Return to News