Contact: Professor Corinne May-Chahal
Further information on projects and ongoing areas of work
CUPICSO
The Collection and Use of Personal Information on Child Sex Offenders
Authors Terry Thomas, Leeds Metropolitan University, Ilan Katz NSPCC and Corinne Wattam, University of Central Lancashire
In 1997 the Erupean Commission set up the DAPHNE initiative, making funds available for projects aimed at combating violence against children and women. CUPICSO was one of the 47 projects funded that year. The aim of the project is to provide a good means of tracking sex offenders, using an effective register.
It is an unknown how many paedophiles travel throuth Europe seeking jobs that will allow them access to children. The aim of the project is to ensure all EU member states have the best possible weapons to tackle this issue, the danger of which will increase as more members join the EU. ..
This proposes
· Fingerprint and DNA databases for the EU
· Individual countries to monitor migrant seeking work with children
· Establishing national 'contact points' to allow easier swapping of information on paedophiles
Other member states to consider setting up British -style ex offenders' registers Britain is the only country in Europe to have a register which is deemed more accurate and efficient than other systems. This register is seen as the most effective way to tracking offenders as they are obliged to inform the police whenever they move.
Researchers working the CUPICSO project, which was funded by the EU also discovered a varied approach from authorities supplying details on offenders to prospective employers. A combination of 'hard' and 'soft'information is the best method says the report. Hard being criminal records, soft being suspicions, allegations, circumstantial evidence.