Should paedophile identities be kept secret?

[Gadjodilo]

Belgium govt blocks access to website

The Belgian government has ordered 17 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to four websites that publish details about convicted paedophiles.

The move was ordered because the government says it could lead to citizens taking the law into their own hands and attacking those named on the site.

Ironically, the 2001 law under which the action has been taken was introduced to combat the spread of child pornography on the net.

More here:
RTÉ News: Belgium govt blocks access to website

[Gadjodilo]

Moderators,

Although it's a foreign story, I posted it here because I think it's of relevance to Irish society.

[rhonda15]

Moderators,

Although it's a foreign story, I posted it here because I think it's of relevance to Irish society.

if i'm a mother with young kids i want to know if my neighbour is a paedophile

as far as i'm concerned they gave up the rights of normal citizens when they decided to engage in that kind of behaviour

[Mr.De-Regulation]

I dont particularly care if people want to hunt down every pedophile and murder them. I think its wrong, but I dont care. Statistically, pedohpiles are more likely to be Labour party voters anyway, so thats an added bonus.

[Gadjodilo]

if i'm a mother with young kids i want to know if my neighbour is a paedophile

as far as i'm concerned they gave up the rights of normal citizens when they decided to engage in that kind of behaviour

What I don't understand is why this issue arises at all. The state doesn't intervene aggressively like this to protect the identities of murderers, right? If I wanted to publish some info saying that the person at No. 16, The Drumlins, Cavan once killed someone, I believe that there is nothing anyone could do to stop me - assuming it was true.

So, why is it different for someone who rapes children?

[toxic avenger]

I dont particularly care if people want to hunt down every pedophile and murder them. I think its wrong, but I dont care. Statistically, pedohpiles are more likely to be Labour party voters anyway, so thats an added bonus.

I have a feeling that bit should be your new signature line...

[rhonda15]

What I don't understand is why this issue arises at all. The state doesn't intervene aggressively like this to protect the identities of murderers, right? If I wanted to publish some info saying that the person at No. 16, The Drumlins, Cavan once killed someone, I believe that there is nothing anyone could do to stop me - assuming it was true.

So, why is it different for someone who rapes children?

I think someone who murders his wife in a fit of passion is a little different from someone who has a compulsion to regularly prey on vulnerable children.

There is a high rate of re-offending among paedophiles - they are notoriously difficult to treat despite having rehab.

Paedophiles are to sex crime what serial killers are to the crime of murder - they will always be a threat and people have a right to know.
Serial killers once caught usually spend the rest of their life incarcerated so i think it's a reasonable request.

[ArtyQueing]

I think someone who murders his wife in a fit of passion is a little different from someone who has a compulsion to regularly prey on vulnerable children.

There is a high rate of re-offending among paedophiles - they are notoriously different to treat despite having rehab.

Paedophiles are to sex crime what serial killers are to the crime of murder - they will always be a threat and people have a right to know.
Serial killers once caught usually spend the rest of their life incarcerated so i think it's a reasonable request.

you are absolutely correct

[Gadjodilo]

I think someone who murders his wife in a fit of passion is a little different from someone who has a compulsion to regularly prey on vulnerable children.

There is a high rate of re-offending among paedophiles - they are notoriously difficult to treat despite having rehab.

Paedophiles are to sex crime what serial killers are to the crime of murder - they will always be a threat and people have a right to know.
Serial killers once caught usually spend the rest of their life incarcerated so i think it's a reasonable request.

you are absolutely correct

Folks,

I think ye misread by post slightly. What I was wondering was why the state wants to protect the identities of paedophiles but not other serious offenders. What is it about paedophiles that makes them deserving of extra protection?

[candi]

These paedophile's have a problem. I do not think that any one of them want to be a pedophile.
Untreated and unsupervised they are a severe threat to our kids.

Without proper supervision the only alternative to protecting our kids is through knowledge of their whereabouts.

This knowledge leads to gossip, and gossip leads to exaggeration, panic and threats and this in turn leads to the paedophiles "going to ground"

Most paedophiles do not practise paedophilia but get their thrills from internet sites so can remain undetected in a community for many years.

Should their identities be kept secret? In an ideal world yes because they will be under adequate supervision but we do not live in a real world, do we.