Barnardo's called on the Government to introduce lie detector(polygraph) tests and satellite tracking for sex offenders in itsreport, A Risk Too High?, last November (Children Now, 22-28 November2006).
Both ideas were included in the Home Office's Review of the Protectionof Children from Sex Offenders, published last week.
Pam Hibbert, principal policy officer for Barnardo's, said: "We'rereally pleased they have taken on board piloting the use of polygraphtesting.
"They have committed themselves to looking at the use of satellitetagging and there are three pilots going on. The evaluation of these isdue to be published later this year."
The findings of the Government's 12-month review outlined 20 ways itplans to strengthen the efforts to keep children safe from sexoffenders.
These include: extending information on the Sex Offenders Register toinclude email addresses; community awareness campaigns to ensure parentsare aware of how child sex offenders are managed; and drug treatment tohelp reduce offenders' sex drives.
These drugs would be either hormonal medication to reduce an offender'ssexual urges or an anti-depressant, and would be used voluntarily,alongside psychological treatment.
Home secretary John Reid said: "These are not a substitute topunishment."
But the plans have been criticised. Marilyn Hawes of child protectionconsultancy Enough Abuse said: "It won't always work and wouldn't workwithout cognitive therapy."
Elaine Peace, UK director of children's services for NCH, added: "Drugsalone will not work. A package of additional measures must be in placeincluding other rehabilitation options and monitoring."
Another of the proposals to receive criticism are those allowing parentsto request details of possible sex offenders, which is to be pilotedonce expected legislation is brought in this year.
Hibbert said: "We question why there needs to be these pilots. We urgethe Government to make sure it's responsibly set up and reviewed."
She added that the information, which local multi-agency publicprotection arrangements would decide whether to disclose, may providefalse hope as they can only release information on convictions.
But Reid said: "We are taking a radical step but doing it in a sensibleand measured fashion."
- www.homeoffice.gov.uk.
