A WORKER for a leading children's charity has expressed concern people convicted of kidnapping youngsters cannot have banning orders imposed on them.

Sue Woolmore, the NSPCC's local safeguarding children's board advisor, spoke out as The Press and Sara Payne's charity, Phoenix Survivors, press for a new law of stranger abduction.

We have launched a petition, which is to be presented to Home Secretary John Reid, calling for new legislation to ensure people who snatch youngsters for a sexual reason can be banned from mixing with children and put on the Sex Offenders' Register.

Sue said she believed offenders should be closely monitored. She said: "It is every parent's worst nightmare to have their child abducted by a stranger.

"Most people would instantly think the motive is a sexual one, even if the motive is not known."

Figures for the number of child abductions per year are not collected by the Home Office, because they make up a relatively small number of crimes.

But the NSPCC did its own research for the year 2002-2003, and found there were 59 cases of stranger abduction, resulting in 68 children being snatched.

Sue said: "It is still far too many more than one case a week and it is a terrible ordeal for the child and parents to go through.

"There were also 361 cases of attempted abduction, resulting in 377 victims."

The NSPCC's research shows at least six per cent of child snatches were sexually motivated but it is thought many more, where the motive is not known, had a sexual intent.

Sue said multi-agency protection panels, which are based in each local authority area, discuss concerns about issues such as child abduction.

"Every local authority has a panel, made up of the police, probation service, council and lay members, who manage dangerous offenders in the community," she said.

"When someone is released from prison, for example, the panel is told about it so they can monitor the situation."

But Sue said: "All members of the public have a responsibility for keeping children safe. If they have a bad feeling about another adult, they should raise their concerns with the police or social services, or phone the NSPCC helpline.

"That bit of information might be a piece of a jigsaw. Even if the fears turn out to be wrong, it is better to raise them, rather than put a child at risk."

Children who want to talk to someone about a problem should phone Childline, which is now part of the NSPCC, on 0800 1111.

Adults concerned about children's welfare can phone the NSPCC's helpline on 0808 8005000.