Well Done Kenny MacAskill (Not Before Time)

Big Wullie · Well Done Kenny MacAskill (Not Before Time)

I think this should be available to every parent in Scotland

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland...o-identify-sex.5642977.jp#4422081

Hotline set to identify sex offenders for worried parents

Published Date: 14 September 2009
By Frank Urquhart
PARENTS concerned that their children may be in contact with convicted paedophiles and other sex offenders are to be told if their suspicions are correct for the first time in Scotland.
A controversial pilot project, aimed at providing parents with unprecedented access to police information about known sex offenders, is to be officially launched in Tayside today by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill.

Under the breakthrough scheme,parents who are concerned that known paedophiles or other sexual offenders may be preying on their children will be able to telephone a dedicated police-operated hotline. There will be a "presumption" that the officers manning the telephone hotline will inform the parent if a named person has convictions.

The scheme – which will run as a pilot project until next May – has been welcomed by children's charities and anti child sexual abuse campaigners.

Mr MacAskill, who officially launched the project, said: "There are few crimes more emotive or more damaging than sexual offences against children and we want to do everything we can to ensure that convicted sex offenders do not reoffend."

A spokeswoman for Tayside Police said: "

Police will be more readily alerted to concerns, with a presumption that they will inform the parent, carer or guardian if the named person has convictions for sex offences.

"If the child is found to be at serious risk of harm, protection measures will be instigated."

Anne Houston, a spokeswoman for Children 1st, said: "

We see this as potentially offering an important additional protection for children.

allan mcleod

Maybe my comment should have been on the "Double Standards" thread.

While I fully support this pilot project 100 per cent, it appears that once again this confirms that Mr MacAskill and other authorities apply the Data Protection Act (DPA) if and when it suits. - Double Standards.

My family has requested information from Mr Macaskill, Police, Crown and Prison service's, whether or not a serving prisoner was at liberty at the time of my nephew Kevin Mcleods murder. They refused to disclose this information by continually refering to, and ramming down our throats the DPA.

Quote - " We consider that any information showing that a named individual is or has been serving a sentence of imprisonment is "sensitive personal data" for the purposes of the DPA 1998. A disclosure of the information you seek would therefore be unlawful. Having carefully considered your request for information under the terms of the DPA 1998 and FOISA, we take the view that the information requested is exempt from disclosure under section 38(1) (b) of FOISA".

Yet, my family cannot simply phone our local police station enquiring whether or not this individual (prisoner) was on home release and possibly committed murder and be told, yes or no.

Again Double Standards, or, if and when it suits Mr MacAskill and his other corrupt cronies interests.

scotkaz

This is long overdue.

In other countries people are informed when sex offenders live near children's area's. Maybe now they will keep an eye on these offenders movements more and help prevent more children and adults suffering.

In US they went further with Megans Law and photographs of the offenders were put all around the area. They even have websites with sex offenders details on there. this is just one. http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/

I can understand what Allan is also saying here too. It is amazing what can be made public when it suits, especially when you have fought so long and so hard to get information. I can imagine how frustrating that is to say the least.

I do believe though that we must give praise when it is due and this is a good thing that the Justice Minister is trying to do.

We need to support the good things done as well as protest about the other things we want changed. Praise sometimes works well Smile

It really is a step in the right direction so well done Mr McAskill. Maybe there is hope after all Wink

allan mcleod

Below, is a copy of my letter sent to local newspaper editors, in relation to this Hotline pilot project launched this week by Kenny MacAskill.

Sir,
I fully support the controversial pilot project launched this week by Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill, whereby parents who are concerned that suspected or known paedophiles or other sexual offenders may be preying on their children,will now be able to telephone a dedicated police-operated hotline and be informed whether their suspicions are correct,and whether or not a named person has any convictions.

However, by allowing this "sensitive personal data" to be disclosed it appears that Mr MacAskill and the police may well themselves be breaking the law with regards to breaching the (DPA) Data Protection Act 1998.

This disclosure of "sensitive personal data" appears to be the case of "Double Standards" by the police and Mr MacAskill, as for years my family and I have written to both police and Mr MacAskill, requesting information be disclosed as to whether an individual was on home release from prison at the time of my nephew Kevin Mcleod's death at Wick harbour in February 1997.
In his recent response to our request Mr MacAskill stated, " I consider that any information showing that a named individual is or has been serving a sentence of imprisonment is "sensitive personal data" for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998. Disclosure of the information you seek would therefore be unlawful under the terms of the DPA 1998 and FOISA".

Therefore, if the Justice secretary has now sanctioned that any concerned parent can now phone their local police station to enquire whether or not a certain individual has been convicted of a sexual crime, and be told " yes or no ", then equally, if Mr MacAskill or the police has "nothing to hide or fear", they must also now inform my family with a " yes or no " answer regarding our concern about this certain individual.

No doubt, as in the Lockerbie bomber debate, it will be the case of whether or not it suits Mr MacAskills political interest to disclose the information we seek.

Big Wullie

Well done Allan.

Your letter is well written and you are correct in that a new Precedent is being set here, and if it is good enough for one then it is good enough for the other.

Wonder if any of the Paedophiles they release info about will complain.

In fact I know for sure they will complain because these types of people have for centuries been protected by the Law with New Address's New NI Numbers and new Names

Huntley being the most prominent recently in my mind and one only needs to look at his Girlfriend Maxine Carr to see the extent these people have been protected.

I dont see why they can be allowed to withhold the info you seek.

Keep up the fight.