| |
| Flowers in Gods Garden
- Articles |
23/10/96 - Fury as Howard drops
vow to nail perverts; U-turn could put kids' lives at
risk
The Mirror
Michael Howard was accused last night of playing politics
by dropping plans for a crackdown on child sex perverts.
The Home Secretary was warned kids' lives could be
put at risk after he cynically shelved the moves because
they were backed by Labour.
Mr Howard promised the Tory conference two weeks ago
he would bring in a national databank of convicted paedophiles.
Perverts would be forced to tell police wherever they
moved home.
But the idea has been axed from today's Government
proposals for the next Parliamentary session.
Mr Howard is also abandoning plans to extend DNA testing
to sex offenders.
Nor is there any room in the Government's timetable
for a clampdown on stalkers.
Last night Commons home affairs committee member John
Hutton said: "Mr Howard is shamelessly playing
with the welfare of children in pursuit of party politics."
And Labour frontbencher Peter Mandelson added: "I
just wonder how much more we can believe of his hollow
words."
Mr Mandelson said the murder of three-year-old Rosie
Palmer in his Hartlepool constituency two years ago
could have been prevented if a perverts' register had
been operating.
He added: "Michael Howard has been caught out
talking tough and acting weak. Parents should feel bitterly
let down."
All the measures now depend on individual MPs piloting
backbench Bills through the Commons.
Yesterday Mr Howard insisted the Government wanted
the proposals turned into law and would support any
backbencher who introduced them in a private Commons
Bill.
But shadow Home Secretary Jack Straw hit back: "It's
the latest in a line of much-needed measures which now
appear to have been dropped by the Government."
Last night Mr Major insisted that his Government has
not run out of steam.
He told a London dinner the Queen's Speech programme is
"based on substance" and will help young people
and improve public services. |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
|
| Flowers in Gods Garden |
|
| Paul Pearson |
|
| Rosie Palmer |
|
| Sophie Hook |
|
| Sarah Payne |
|
| Victoria Climbie |
|
| Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman |
- Documents
- Audio
|
| The Yorkshire Ripper |
- Video
|
|
|