Public must know sex offenders

THE EDITOR: In a recent statement the head of the Gender-Based Violence Unit, Supt Claire Guy-Alleyne of the police service, made it clear that no one will be registered as a sex offender unless due process is completed.

However, neither Guy-Alleyne nor the Commissioner of Police has advocated for the registry to be accessible to the general public.

The intent should be to protect children by giving people access to the registry so they can know who the sex offenders are and where they reside.

But the registry is only for use in police investigations when it should have been designed to provide awareness.

In New York, if a sex offender is convicted and is on parole or under probation, the person may be prevented from living 1,000 feet from a school or a day care centre.

How can people protect their children when access is denied? It is like the law was designed to protect the sex offender more than the children.

The proponents could have created a sexual offenders registry website so the people can have immediate access and notification whenever these people change residence.

Therefore I believe the registry is counter-productive in its current form. The act requires amendments to allow the registry to be accessible to the people so they can protect their children and their families.

JAY RAKHAR

New York