Paedophile's Privacy 'Garbage'

Wednesday 4 Jun 2003 Stephen Franks Press Releases -- Crime & Justice

It is ludicrous that the innocent family of a TV presenter is told by the court that they have no right to privacy, while the Government decides - without any legal requirement - to hide the identity of a paedophile who is about to restrict the freedoms of Palmerston North children, ACT New Zealand Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks said today.

"Lloyd Alexander McIntosh is a predator of the worst kind, yet the Government will not release his name or photograph, so that parents might protect their children - all in the interests of some completely spurious right to privacy and optimistic, pious faith belief in rehabilitation," Mr Franks said.

"There is no research or evidence to show that offenders hidden in communities are more likely to be rehabilitated than those who have to satisfy fully-informed neighbours of their turnaround.

"Meanwhile, correctly in a free society, the Hosking family has found they have no such right. Mr Hosking has no power to stop publication of unauthorised photographs of family, who have done nothing wrong. When Justice Minister Phil Goff, Corrections Minister Paul Swain, and most of the media have gone along with this privacy garbage, we need to fear for both common sense and liberty.

"Every potential victim in Palmerston North should have an absolute right to the name and photograph of Lloyd McIntosh - as well as any other details that police ought to provide - to help the community keep watch on him.

"ACT New Zealand MP Deborah Coddington's Sex Offender Register is the least that we think Mr Goff and the other parties will agree to. If the innocent public were respected half as much as the undeserving offender, everyone adult member of the public would be part of the safety programme. The community could make sure McIntosh doesn't get a chance to harm another unwary victim.

ACT will eventually ensure that our justice is once again transparent, with open courts and no name suppression - except in the most extraordinary circumstances, where the victim shows it is essential," Mr Franks said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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