Children will be safer as campaign becomes law

8:54am Monday 19th February 2007

TODAY a loophole in the law has finally been closed after an historic victory by The Press's Change It! campaign to protect children from kidnappers.

An amendment to the Sexual Offences Act 2003 has come into force, meaning judges will be able to place child snatchers on the Sex Offenders' Register.

The affirmative order - that was signed on February 5 and becomes law today - means that child abductors can be monitored on their release from jail.

It could also mean that Terry Delaney - whose case triggered the Change It! campaign - could still be placed on the sex offenders' register.

Delaney was jailed for four years at York Crown Court in April for attempting to abduct Strensall teenager Natalie Hick.

But Judge Paul Hoffman spoke out because he was unable to place him on the Sex Offenders' Register, which would have allowed police to monitor him after his release.

Because of Change It! Delaney could be placed on the register based on his previous crime when he is released from prison - if police consider him to be a danger.

Natalie's mother, June Briggs, 47, said that if Delaney was placed on the register it would be "the icing on the cake".

She said: "I am just so relieved. I know he is still going to be out there but it is good to know there could be some record against him.

"Hopefully, he will be going on to this register and I would be delighted. We are absolutely thrilled."

She said: "We are so proud of Natalie for coming forward and trying to get this changed.

"It is nice to know that something positive has come out of it. To know he could go on the register is the icing on the cake for her, to know that he will be monitored."

City of York MP Hugh Bayley, who backed Change It!, said: "I welcome that the day has come.

"I am pleased the change of the law is now in force. It will make children safer in future."

He said: "This is a big step forward and I thank The Press for the big part it played in persuading Government to change the law. It is almost unheard of for the law of the land to be changed in less than a year and this would not have happened if this case in York had not attracted the attention that it did."

The Press's major Change It! campaign was backed by dozens of MPs in a Parliamentary motion and helped by Natalie Hick, now 14, who waived her right to anonymity to support the campaign.

Editor's choice

Editor's choice