Moonraker

Why Sarah’s Law won’t work!

The red top papers relish in the fact that they support the introduction of Sarah’s law (a UK version of Megan’s Law, that they have in the US), whereby the public have the right to know of paedophiles in their locality.

This week, the local media (newspapers, radio AND TV) have named a Pembrokeshire Headmaster who was suspended from his post, following one allegation of improper behaviour towards a child. Unlike the media, I will not name or say where the headmaster is from as the current law is an ass.

A person is innocent in the eyes of the law, until proven guilty. However, when such “alleged” crimes are reported, you can understand how people will react. The neighbours may gossip that X is guilty and others may take it on their shoulders to attack him or his property, as feelings are so high when it involves possible sex crimes against a child. But that has largely been whipped up by the tabloids and now parents believe that there is a paedophile on every street corner.

I am not standing up for the headmaster. I do not even know him. What he does deserve though is to be treated properly. No charges have been made by the police and as the newspapers have said, it was one allegation. For all we know, that allegation could be correct or at worst, malicious. We do not know.

Whatever happens, if the Headmaster is charged and found guilty, he will get treated accordingly to the law. However, if he is innocent, will his reputation be restored, or will he be forever tarnished?

The same newspapers, in the same editions were reporting a case whereby a Pembrokeshire woman will be coming before Haverfordwest Magistrates Court for making false rape allegations. I won’t name her or her whereabouts, either.

It is surely time that the law was reviewed, where serious allegations involving rape and children, are involved. At present, there is no level playing field before the law.