Cynic wrote:
> So to bring this back to the original point, you would agree that a
> taxi driver who has a conviction for possession of child . presents
> a statistically insignificant higher risk of abusing a child passenger
> than a taxi driver without such a conviction.
I would suggest that we are dancing around the main issue. Which is
whether *anyone* that shows extreme abnormal interest in child abuse
should be put on the SOR. Those with a collection of child abuse images
clearly are showing an extreme abnormal interest - in view of the
penalties if caught.
I still think that the probability of someone who possesses child abuse
images will also commit actual abuse is greater than the probability of
someone who does not possess such images actually committing abuse.
That doesn't mean that any one person chosen at random from those caught
with child abuse images is likely to be a significant threat. But by
putting all of them on the SOR, it is reducing the possibility that one
or more of them will carry out actual abuse. Arguably somewhat unfair to
all the others that wouldn't ever do so - but, by those knowingly
committing a criminal act are accepting the possibility of this eventuality.
It isn't just possession of child abuse images that can cause this - any
abnormal interest in abusing children that comes to the attention of the
authorities will be acted on. I'm pretty certain that a few diaries,
found on a bus, with child abuse fantasies on every page would get the
police around faster than free beer. It will just be a lot easier for
them to take action if they have evidence that a particular law has been
broken and finding them in possession of child abuse images is a bit
like them passing a speed camera at 89..
>
> You should also bear in mind that an *extremely* small percentage of
> child abuse is carried out by a complete stranger on a child they have
> met for the first time. I would not think that a taxi ride would
> allow either the opportunity or the time to "groom" a child in the way
> that almost all paedophiles do before they carry out any abuse. Even
> less in the case of a bus driver.
I don't agree with the last point. The odds of a child getting in the
same taxi with the same driver on a future trip are pretty remote.
Whereas bus drivers often have the same route, with the same passengers
getting on and off at the same stops, for weeks, months and even years.
It is very normal to get to know far more about a young passenger
than their parents do.. If twenty-something males are interested in
getting to meet fourteen-something females, then driving a bus,
particularly a rural bus, would take some beating. Which is possibly why
so many will swap shifts to avoid the schools run ...
--
Sue
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