Naming & Shaming Poll

Sunday 20 August 2000

• MORI interviewed 1,004 British adults aged 18+
• Interviews were conducted by telephone on 17-18 August 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

QV1 How would you vote if there were a General Election tomorrow?
(If undecided or refused at Q1)

QV2 Which party are you most inclined to support?

Q1 What, if anything, do you think could be done to improve the safety of children in your area?

Q2 The Government introduced the Sex 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?

I am now going to read out a number of different statements. For each, please tell me whether you agree or disagree. Firstly,

Q3 People who are imprisoned for committing serious sexual crimes against children should never be set free

Q4 Convicted paedophiles should be publicly named

Q5 Local people should know if there is a convicted paedophile in their neighbourhood

Q6 Courts should have the power to prevent those convicted of sexual crimes against children from contacting or living near their victims after they have served their sentence

Q7 Criminals who have served their sentences are entitled to have their human rights protected, however serious the crimes they committed

Q8 Criminals who are put on the Sex Offenders Register should be required to register within 72 hours, and not within 14 days as at present

Q9 The penalty for failing to comply with the Sex Offenders Register should be increased from 6 months to 5 years imprisonment

Q10 As you may know, there has recently been controversy over the publication by the News of the World of names and photographs of people convicted of sex crimes against children. Do you think the News of the World was right or wrong to pursue this "naming and shaming policy"?

Q11 You may have seen stories in the press recently about people who have been called vigilantes who take the law into their own hands by threatening or retaliating against people they think have committed sex crimes against children. In general, do you …?

Q12 The "Sarah's Law" campaign wants to introduce a new law in Britain that would ensure every parent's right to controlled access to information about individuals in their neighbourhood who may pose a risk to their children. Sarah's Law would also include severe penalties for misuse of this information. The campaign is endorsed by the NSPCC, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Chief Officers of Probation. Do you support or oppose the introduction of "Sarah's Law"? Is that strongly support/oppose or tend to support/oppose?