Police powerless over paedophile's threat

Parents in Merseyside were stunned at the revelation yesterday that a convicted paedophile who has threatened to reoffend could be returned to their community next week.

The man has told police he is likely to commit a further offence but they cannot act until he does so. The case has renewed calls for the introduction in Britain of Megan's Law,adopted by 42 states in America, which compels authorities to notify parents if a paedophile moves into their locality.

Parents shopping in Huyton, the Liverpool district where the man lived in a hostel prior to his recent detention, demanded that his identity be made public. Karen Cleary, who has a three-year-old son, said: "We should be able to see a picture of him and be told where he lives. There are lots of children living around here and they do play out and hang around outside all the time. It is very frightening for parents."

In 1990 the paedophile was sentenced to nine years jail at Manchester Crown Court for the rape and sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl. He was released after six years but arrested last month for breach of the peace. He is being detained under the Mental Health Act for 28 days and is due to be released in eight days time.

Some police fiercely oppose the introduction of a Megan's Law, so-named after Megan Kanka, a seven-year-old raped and murdered by a convicted paedophile who moved into the New Jersey street where she lived. They fear that identified paedophiles - or those mistaken for them - would be the target of vigilantes. Paedophiles, they say, would be driven underground where police and social workers would be unable to monitor their activities.

Fr Michael Lee, of St Columba Catholic Church, Huyton, said he would be praying for the protection of all children. "If these people can be helped, then we should try to stop them doing these awful things. But I also believe people in this community need to be warned about any danger to them and their children," he said.