Sunday 23 July 2000
- MORI interviewed 614 British adults aged 18+
- Interviews were conducted by telephone on 21 July 2000
- Results are based on all respondents unless stated
- Data are weighted to the known population profile
- An '*' indicates a finding of less than 0.5%, but greater than zero
- Poll conducted by MORI on behalf of The News of the World
I am now going to read out two statements and would like you to tell me whether you agree or disagree with each.
Q1 Britain is a safe place for children to grow up
| | % |
|---|
| Strongly Agree | 8 |
| Tend to agree | 37 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 8 |
| Tend to disagree | 26 |
| Strongly disagree | 21 |
| Don't know | 1 |
Q2 Britain is as safe for children now as when I was young
| | % |
|---|
| Strongly Agree | 4 |
| Tend to agree | 14 |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 3 |
| Tend to disagree | 31 |
| Strongly disagree | 47 |
| Don't know | 1 |
Q3 What, if anything, do you think could be done to improve the safety of children in your area? [SPONTANEOUS]
| | % |
|---|
| More policing | 35 |
| Better parenting/responsibility for safety/care of children | 16 |
| More safe area/parks for children/teenagers to play in | 15 |
| More clubs/places to keep children/teenagers off the street | 9 |
| Tougher sentences for child attackers | 8 |
| Restrictions on speed limits/traffic control | 7 |
| More education on safety/self defence | 6 |
| All adults/people should be aware/have more interest | 4 |
| Bringing back death penalty/capital punishment | 3 |
| Better community spirit/projects | 3 |
| Public naming of convicted paedophiles | 2 |
| More parking wardens | 2 |
| Electronic tagging of convicted paedophiles | * |
| Other | 8 |
| Nothing | 4 |
| Don't know | 15 |
Q4-10 I am going to read out a list of various crimes and I would like you to tell me what you think the sentence should be for each one. Should it be the death penalty, a life prison sentence, a long prison sentence, a short prison sentence, or should it be none of these? Firstly for …
| | Death penalty | A life prison sentence | A long prison sentence | A short prison sentence | None | Don't know |
|---|
| | % | % | % | % | % | % |
|---|
| Q4 Murder of an adult stranger | 31 | 50 | 15 | * | 1 | 3 |
| Q5 Serious sexual abuse of an adult stranger | 11 | 43 | 41 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Q6 Murder of a child | 58 | 33 | 7 | * | 1 | 1 |
| Q7 Serious sexual abuse of a child | 30 | 45 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Q8 Kidnap of a child | 8 | 39 | 44 | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| Q9 Murder of a husband or wife in a fit of rage | 8 | 28 | 37 | 10 | 4 | 13 |
| Q10 Murder committed in prison while already serving a life sentence | 35 | 43 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
Q11 The Government introduced the Sexual Offenders Register to ensure that the police know where people who commit sexual offences are living. How effective do you think this has been so far? Would you say it has been very effective, fairly effective, not very effective, or not at all effective?
| | % |
|---|
| Very effective | 4 |
| Fairly effective | 30 |
| Not very effective | 31 |
| Not at all effective | 18 |
| Don't know | 17 |
| None | 0 |
Q12-18 I am now going to read out a number different statements. For each, please tell me whether you agree or disagree. Firstly …
Q18 Base: All asked (321)
| | Agree | Disagree | Don't know |
|---|
| | % | % | % |
|---|
| Q12 People who commit serious sexual crimes against children need treatment rather than punishment | 29 | 55 | 16 |
| Q13 People who are imprisoned for committing serious sexual crimes against children should never be set free | 75 | 19 | 6 |
| Q14 If they had to wear an electronic tag, convicted paedophiles would be less likely to re-offend | 42 | 53 | 5 |
| Q15 People who commit serious sexual crimes against children should be forced to accept medical treatment to suppress the production of sex hormones, sometimes called chemical castration | 82 | 12 | 6 |
| Q16 People who commit serious sexual crimes against children should be allowed to opt for voluntary castration rather than imprisonment | 27 | 65 | 8 |
| Q17 Convicted paedophiles should be publicly named | 84 | 12 | 4 |
| Q18 Local people should know if there is a convicted peadophile in their neighbourhood | 88 | 8 | 4 |
Q19 Do you think it is, or is not, possible to cure people who are sexually attracted to children through medical treatment?
| | % |
|---|
| Yes, possible | 19 |
| No, not possible | 57 |
| Don't know | 25 |
Q20 And do you think this should be … ?
Base: All who think it is possible to cure people who are sexually attracted to children through medical treatment (115)
| | Agree | Disagree | Don't know |
|---|
| | % | % | % |
|---|
| Q20a An alternative to prison | 45 | 45 | 10 |
| Q20b Compulsory for offenders convicted of sexually abusing children | 90 | 9 | 2 |
| Q20c Compulsory for all people attracted to children | 70 | 20 | 9 |
Q21 The police often take DNA samples for "genetic fingerprints" from suspects in cases involving violence, burglary and sexual assaults. If a suspect is acquitted of the offence for which the DNA sample was taken, or if the case is dropped, the DNA sample is destroyed and cannot be used in any other cases. On balance, do you think this is right or wrong?
| | % |
|---|
| Right | 23 |
| Wrong | 73 |
| Don't know | 4 |