The News of the World newspaper played a significant role in the Sarah’s Law campaign, which aimed to give parents the right to know if a convicted sex offender was living in their area. The campaign was named after Sarah Payne, an eight-year-old girl who was abducted and murdered by a convicted sex offender in 2000.
The News of the World took up the cause of Sarah’s Law and launched a high-profile campaign to bring about changes in the law regarding the disclosure of information about convicted sex offenders. The newspaper published a petition and encouraged readers to sign it in support of the campaign.
The News of the World also featured stories about the devastating impact of child sexual abuse on its victims and their families. These stories helped to raise awareness of the issue and generate public support for the campaign.
In 2008, the government introduced the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, also known as Sarah’s Law, which allows parents to ask the police if someone with access to their child has a record of child sexual offences. This scheme was hailed as a victory for the News of the World and its campaign.
The role of the News of the World in the Sarah’s Law campaign highlights the power of the media to raise awareness of important social issues and bring about change. The newspaper’s coverage of the campaign helped to mobilize public opinion and put pressure on the government to take action to protect children from sexual predators.
Sadly, the News of the World closed down in 2011 following a phone hacking scandal. However, its contribution to the Sarah’s Law campaign is a reminder of the impact that a determined media organization can have in advocating for social justice and bringing about positive change in society.