Written Answers. - Child Abduction.
Jim Higgins
Question:
3
Mr. Higgins (Mayo)
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the number of attempted child abductions reported to the Garda Síochána in 1998; the number reported to date in 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3076/99]
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue): We are not talking here about the abduction of children in circumstances of family conflict. Obviously, the Deputy tabled this question because of the number of media reports of suspicious approaches which have been made to children in recent months. I am concerned about this matter. All such reports are treated seriously by the Garda authorities and fully investigated. In response to the recent reported incidents, the Garda press office issued a statement last December reminding parents not to take their children's personal safety for granted, to avoid having their children wait alone outside school and to be aware of their children's whereabouts at all times.
I understand the national bureau of criminal investigation is co-ordinating all incidents of suspicious approaches made to children. In the period September to December 1998, approximately 100 incidents were reported to the Garda Síochána in circumstances where children were out alone, either playing or on their way home from school. About half of these occurred in the Dublin region.
The classification of such incidents in the statistics depends on the outcome of each investigation. It has to be determined whether a crime was committed in some of these cases or whether there was intent to commit a crime. All reports are taken seriously and fully investigated by the Garda Síochána.
Even if some of the reports were the result of misunderstandings or of cases where children may have overreacted, we must take all of them seriously. I am concerned that the media coverage of these events generates a substantial fear of crime, particularly in relation to the alleged increase in the number of paedophiles in Ireland as result of the establishment of the sex offenders register in the United Kingdom. No register is foolproof and a paedophile whose name is on the register in the United Kingdom is still in a position to come here for a short period without being in breach of the law in the United Kingdom.
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that informal protocols exist between the Garda Síochána and police forces in other jurisdictions where they are aware of the movements of convicted child abusers. This information is confidential and it would be inappropriate to share it with third parties.
Officials of my Department met recently with officials of the Home Office to discuss the operation of the register in the United Kingdom which claims to have a 95 per cent compliance rate. There was a useful exchange of information. I intend bringing a memorandum to Government in the near future to progress this issue and will consider, in detail, how such a register would work here. We may need a wide range of measures to reduce the potential for offending which paedophiles present. This may involve assessments by multidisciplinary teams of the risk which different categories of sex offender present. I want to ensure we develop an appropriate and effective solution. A comprehensive response is required to sex offending generally, which is the subject of understandable concern.
