Watch abusers, don’t force them into hiding

NEW legislation that would allow the gardaí, under certain circumstances, to inform neighbours, schools and communities that high-risk sex offenders had moved into their area have, rightly, come under scrutiny before the Oireachtas Justice Committee.

In principle, we have no objection to such information being shared, but it certainly comes with risks.

As Fianna Fáil’s Jim O’Callaghan pointed out yesterday, the main danger is that, since the offenders themselves would have to be informed in advance, there is a very real possibility this might drive them underground, and make monitoring their activities all but impossible.

Equally, even though the information would be disclosed only when it was unlikely to result in public disorder or physical harm to the offender, or damage to property, or intimidation or threats, it is easy to see how vigilantes might decide to take the law into their own hands and run offenders out of their homes, again forcing them to disappear beneath the radar.

We know from court cases that there are thousands of sex offenders out there, and very likely already a few living near all of us. That definitely is a worry, especially when the offences have been against juveniles.

It also is why whatever legislation is passed must strike the correct balance between alerting communities to threats, while still leaving those on the register visible and properly policed.