Paedophiles face 'Reid's law'

Drug therapy to suppress their libido, lie detector tests, even satellite tracking. These are just three of the measures that convicted paedophiles could face under new plans to stop reoffending.

Home Secretary John Reid says the system should offer maximum protection to children.

But the drug treatment - dubbed "chemical castration" - will not be made compulsory.

Notably absent from the new proposals is the so-called 'Sarah's law' named after eight-year-old Sarah Payne who was killed by convicted paedophile Roy Whiting.

Modelled on the American 'Megan's law' it would have allowed details of convicted paedophiles to be published in the area they live in. Critics said victims deserved better.

Meanwhile the NSPCC said moves to open up limited information about suspected paedophiles could hinder work to manage offenders unless it is well funded.

It said the government plans to allow some people to ask for information about possible child sex abusers could leave resources overstretched.

The charity fears inappropriate information could be given out unless clear guidelines are established and sufficient resources put in to implement them.

In Scotland offenders' details can be given out if they violate their terms of their release.

The new proposals for England and Wales would stop short of that but would allow parents to check whether new partners or people dealing with their children are known sex offenders - but they would have to treat the information confidentially.

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