Abstract

Public identifiction of paedophiles is very dangerous and unnecessay

Article

It is clear that children should be well protected against paedophiles.

That is not an excuse to subject the offenders to the very serious danger of grave physical harm at the hands of equally venal physical persons who, with a vigilante state of mind, or in some cases out of the delight of harming an easy victim on the pretence of doing a public good, would take advantage of the information.

Paedophilia, on the one hand, and serious violence to an offender, on the other, are in principle different only in degree.  A party who would facilitate the latter is a party to it.

The proposal should not be advanced as a means of attracting political support from those who are naturally caring fpr the protecction of children and angry at offenders, but who do not fully consider the implications.

There are ample means of protection without pubic identification, and the latter is not demonstrated to have any real benefit.

If a olitician were to pomote public identification, it should be accompanied with an undertaking in writing to resign from office and from th prliament on the first occasion of serious harm to an offender who has been identified.

Prominent obsessed vocal supporters too should undertake that in such circumstances they will abjure communication with television cameras, microphones and reporters.