In 2000, News of the World newspaper launched a controversial campaign called “Sarah’s Law” aimed at increasing awareness of child protection and helping parents to know if a convicted sex offender lived near them. The campaign was named after Sarah Payne, an 8-year-old girl who was abducted and murdered by a convicted sex offender in England.
The newspaper’s campaign called for a change in the law to allow parents to access information about convicted sex offenders living in their area. News of the World published a petition calling for a national register of sex offenders to be made available to the public, citing the need for greater transparency and accountability in protecting children from abuse.
The campaign sparked a national debate on the issue of child protection and led to calls for the government to introduce a version of Megan’s Law, a controversial law in the United States that allows public access to information about sex offenders.
Despite facing criticism from some quarters, the campaign gained widespread support from the public and politicians, with then-Home Secretary David Blunkett announcing plans to introduce a pilot scheme to allow parents to request information about sex offenders in their area.
Following the success of the campaign, News of the World launched a follow-up campaign in 2008, urging the government to introduce a full national version of Sarah’s Law. The newspaper argued that parents have a right to know if convicted sex offenders are living in their neighborhood in order to protect their children.
However, News of the World’s campaign faced criticism from child protection experts and civil liberties groups, who warned that public access to sex offender information could lead to vigilante attacks and stigmatization of offenders who had served their sentence.
In 2011, News of the World was forced to shut down amidst a phone hacking scandal, marking the end of the newspaper’s campaigns for child protection. Despite the controversy surrounding the newspaper, Sarah’s Law remains a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting children from abuse and ensuring that parents have access to information that can help keep their families safe.
Overall, News of the World’s reporting on child protection issues, specifically through the Sarah’s Law campaign, sparked important discussions and raised awareness about the need for greater transparency and accountability in safeguarding children. While the newspaper may no longer exist, the legacy of Sarah’s Law continues to shape child protection policies and practices in the UK.