"Sex offenders cannot be rehabilitated" - Dorset woman launches petition to remove government ruling
A victim of childhood sexual abuse believes sex offenders will always "be a danger to children" as she fights to stop them from removed from sex register
A victim of child abuse in Bournemouth has launched a petition to stop abusers being removed from the sex offender’s register.
Laura Stewart was sexually abused by her mother’s ex-partner between the ages of 11 and 16.
She told us: “From the very first minute, he was sexually abusing me. He was touching me in places that he shouldn't and as an 11-year-old child I had no ability to do anything about it physically. I couldn’t ward him off.”
Her abuser was imprisoned for 17 months in 2002 after being convicted of six counts of sexual assault, but he’s since been taken off the sex register.
Since 2012, individuals who have been put on the register indefinitely can apply for a police review of the requirement after 15 years.
Ms Stewart feels this ruling is a ‘kick in the face’ to victims and survivors of child abuse who have gone through the process. She said: “It seems madness to me that you can apply to be removed from the register when a judge has deemed you enough of a risk to state that you need to be on it indefinitely.”
Now, the 39-year-old has launched a petition on the Parliament website calling for the right to apply to be removed from the register be cancelled as it ‘threatens the safety of children’ .
She claims paedophiles “will do anything to be close to children” such as work in a school, youth club or apply for a DBS check.
Being on the sex register reassures victims that their perpetrators will be closely monitored and allow employers to conduct background checks on them.
“Sex offenders cannot be rehabilitated,” Ms Stewart said: “I’m hoping to lobby the Government to overturn this ruling which has been in force since 2012.
”Child abuse victims and victims of sexual assault and abuse have a life sentence of trauma and adverse life outcomes as a result.”
She continued to tell us: “I feel empowered to continue this fight for those who haven't got the voice to do it.
“I've had messages from people saying, I've never spoken about my abuse and I'm in awe of what you're doing, and I really support you.”
However, Ms Stewart has also received some negativity: “Some people have said, ‘Don't you think they deserve a second chance?’ and I’m like, no I don't! I feel if you're on the list indefinitely, it's a just penalty.”
She noted that if offenders can remove themselves from the register, it makes victims question why they’d come forward, speak out or go through the traumatic court process.
The petition has now gained more than 12,000 signatures and is due to get a response from the government. Once the petition reaches 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
The petition can be found at: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/632806