For years the News of the World has claimed that the public wanted a "Sarah's Law" which everyone said would not work and that no one wanted.

In a blaze of publicity and fanfares it was launched in 4 areas.

You would expect with years of campaign and with national media frothing at the mouth there would be loads of people Qing up to use this much lauded service

Well in the first day they managed - 4 ( FOUR ) calls.
Sounce : www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1711480.ece

That is 4 Police areas covering several million people - and the pent up demand was 4 people. Possibly 3 out of those 4 were ringing for advice on a burglary LOL

It proves beyond any doubt that this whole campaign against non existant sex offenders is totally flawed. They should have received hundreds or possibly thousands of calls if the NEWS OF THE WORLD was to be believed.

Once again the agenda of these very sick people has been exposed.

While they carry on with their agenda to push FEAR towards the public we have SOCIAL WORKERS who have got no resources and no English ( in London ) skills trying to protect very young children who are at risk every day and are in a terrible situation. The resources are being aimed at MEDIA led HEADLINE grabbing initiatives which serve no purpose except to demonise and spread fear.

Surely it is time for New Labour to put resources where the PROFESSIONALS want them - and stop bowing to MEDIA campaign pressure and wasting money. It is yet again a case of New Labour letting down the most vulnerable in Society.

WHY do you CAPITALISE random WORDS?

well the only suprise here would be the idea that anyone might think the NoTW doesn't lie !

Perhaps irresponsible outlets like the NoTW will push things so far that eventually,,those in power ( gutless polticians) will see that the Emperor Has No Clothes.

Tabloids like The Sun, Mirror etc make the illogiocal conclusion that their readers, while titilated about sex stories ( and sadly obviously many lap up child abuse tales) actually give a damn and are likely to follow through with requests for more action.

On the whole these readers are living vicariously and their interest ends there. But will a politician ever stand up to them ?.

I agree with your point about social workers-overstretched and under-resourced.

As an example I use the stastitics here in NSW ( as per usual-where the UK goes we follow in it's footsteps).

There were over 200,000 reported calls to DOCS in 2007( Department of Community Services) about children in dangeropus situations-from mental,physical, sexual and neglect. All are equally damaging to children's current and long term health.

Where a child might recover from sexual abuse with good therapy-mental and physical abuse can carry lifetime consequences and there is no therapy available.

The Federal Police ask and are given $40 millon to go on-line and to act as 14 year olds to seduce would-be predators. ( about 1 a year is caught).

Meanwhile 6 children under the age of 8 are discovered in a house where the parents simply walked out a week ago abanoning them.The neighbours noticed nothing wrong-a passerby found a tot wandering in the road.

Social workers are simply overwhelmed by reports and can do little. Of those 200,000 calls ( in one state of 6 million residents) only a few thousand are responded to.

The solution : the relevant government minister is sacked after enough pressure and the new one gets to carry the can until their time comes.