Sarah’s Law, also known as Megan’s Law in the United States, is a piece of legislation that allows public access to information regarding convicted sex offenders living in their communities. The law is named after Sarah Payne, an 8-year-old girl who was abducted and murdered by a convicted sex offender named Roy Whiting in 2000.
The tragic case of Sarah Payne captured the nation’s attention and sparked widespread outrage. The public was horrified to learn that Whiting had a history of sexually assaulting young girls, and many people felt that if they had known about his past, Sarah’s death could have been prevented.
In the aftermath of Sarah’s murder, her parents, Sara and Michael Payne, launched a high-profile campaign for a new law that would give parents the right to know if convicted sex offenders were living in their area. The News of the World, a popular British tabloid newspaper, also played a crucial role in bringing attention to the issue.
The newspaper launched a campaign called “Sarah’s Law” and published a petition calling for the government to introduce legislation that would provide parents with information about sex offenders living nearby. The campaign gained widespread support from the public, with hundreds of thousands of people signing the petition.
In 2008, the UK government introduced the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, known as Sarah’s Law, which allows parents to ask the police if someone with access to their child has a history of child sexual offences. The scheme was rolled out across the country, giving parents greater peace of mind and helping to protect vulnerable children from potential harm.
The News of the World’s campaigning on Sarah’s Law played a crucial role in bringing about this important change in legislation. The newspaper helped to shine a spotlight on the issue of convicted sex offenders living in communities and provided a platform for the voices of concerned parents to be heard.
Thanks to the efforts of Sarah’s parents, the News of the World, and many others who supported the campaign, Sarah’s Law has helped to bring justice for victims of sexual abuse and prevent further tragedies from occurring. The legacy of Sarah Payne lives on through this important piece of legislation, which continues to protect children and families across the UK.