CAMPAIGN HELPED ME COPE, SAYS APRIL’S MUM
APRIL Jones’ mum said her family’s campaign calling for tougher sentences for paedophiles has helped them deal with their continued grief. Coral Jones, pictured left, whose five-year-old daughter was abducted and murdered by evil Mark Bridger, said she was “over the moon” that their petition had smashed its allimportant 100,000-signature target. “It has helped because you have got something to focus on,” said Coral. “We are not just helping ourselves but others, and after so many people supported us it’s nice to be able to give something back.” The petition, which calls for sex offenders to be on the register for life for any crime and for the internet to be better regulated to avoid there being indecent images of children availa- ble, hit the 100,000 mark on Tuesday this week. It will now be considered for a parliamentary debate.
The family hope the measures will be adopted and colloquially termed April’s Law in honour of the youngster, who was snatched by Bridger in Machynlleth, Powys, in October 2012.
The sexually motivated crime came after Bridger had viewed indecent images of youngsters on a computer at his home, which has since been torn down because of the crimes that were committed there.
Bridger is now serving a whole-life jail term.
“We want the law to be changed, that’s what we are fighting for – to help protect children and make sure paedophiles stay on the list for life,” added Coral.
“I hope the politicians will now listen. It’s been a long battle. I know a lot of politicians are trying their best, and David Cameron supported us when he was Prime Minister – but we haven’t heard from Theresa May.
“It’s so easy for paedophiles to get these images but it shouldn’t be. It’s disgusting.
“Some people might be on the register for five years and will then think they’ll soon be off it – but that person will never change.
“We are over the moon, everybody is. But we want it to become law and we won’t rest until then.”
Glyn Davies, Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire – which includes Machynlleth – said: “I’m committed to discussing with the Petitions Committee how MPs can best respond.
“There should Parliament.
“While it’s not possible for government to fully control the internet, we must continue to update our laws and procedures to enable us to deal with the vile people involved with abuse of children. And be careful and certain before taking abusers’ names off the sexual abuse register.
“It’s the least we can do to support April’s parents.”
In response to the petition, the UK Government said: “Protecting the public from harm remains a priority for this Government, and we have been clear that those offenders who continue to pose a risk will remain subject to notification for life.
“The public should rest assured that sex offenders will not automatically come off the register; the order only provides a mechanism by which a sex offender can apply for a review.” be a debate in