Call for Commission action to target paedophiles

By Martin Banks

Date: 20/11/03

THE European Commission is being urged to clamp down on paedophile sex "tourism" in the EU.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), a UK-based charity, wants the Commission to impose a minimum standard across Europe for regulating sex offenders.

It claims that paedophiles are taking advantage of differences in legislation to widen their net.

The charity is backed by Socialist MEP Glenys Kinnock, who has raised the issue with António Vitorino, commissioner for justice and home affairs. Campaigners are also calling on the UK government to make child protection issues a priority of its 2005 EU presidency.

NSPCC chief executive, Mary Marsh, said: "There is a significant disparity between EU member states' registers of sex offenders disqualified from working with children. It means there is a clear legal loophole that allows sex offenders to move between member countries to target children. EU enlargement next year could mean the threat of further haven states."

Towns on the Czech border with Germany in western Bohemia openly advertize child sex, with a teddy bear in the window - blue curtains mean a male child prostitute and pink curtains a girl.

Portugal and Austria have no sex offenders' register at all, while Ireland's was set up 18 months ago. The UK register covers all types of sex crimes and a specific list ofindividuals banned from teaching.

A UK-based charity, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), wants the European Commission to impose a minimum standard across Europe for regulating sex offenders.

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/html/home/home.htm http://www.nspcc.org.uk/html/home/home.htm

---