A 'scrapbook'of many of the latest Adolescent Health Issues and Articles in the media - snippets and pointers to papers, websites and journals etc... for Parents and Professionals working with young people.
19.11.06
News: Police chief sparks row over stigma of sex with children
This is a complex issue and I don't know that I understand the finer points of British law. Does a plea of paedophilia mean that the defendant is considered mentally ill and therefore not responsible?
On the other hand, to label girls of 13 as somehow in a greyer area than those of 12 is to sacrifice our children's innocence to an arbitrary point based on the opinion of a few.
One of the main issues, I think, is the age of the partner. If we are talking of other children, then there needs to be more sensitivity to the issue of mutual consent than a case where a child of under 16 is pursued by an adult.
I find the ACOP to be walking a terribly radical line in terms of sexual assault opinions this week. Their reports carry undue weight in law enforcement and the press if their reports are, as in the words of the police officer, 'personal opinion.'
If a police officer's personal opinion holds so much sway, perhaps we should start listening to some victims of rape to hear their 'opinions'
1 comment:
This is a complex issue and I don't know that I understand the finer points of British law. Does a plea of paedophilia mean that the defendant is considered mentally ill and therefore not responsible?
On the other hand, to label girls of 13 as somehow in a greyer area than those of 12 is to sacrifice our children's innocence to an arbitrary point based on the opinion of a few.
One of the main issues, I think, is the age of the partner. If we are talking of other children, then there needs to be more sensitivity to the issue of mutual consent than a case where a child of under 16 is pursued by an adult.
I find the ACOP to be walking a terribly radical line in terms of sexual assault opinions this week. Their reports carry undue weight in law enforcement and the press if their reports are, as in the words of the police officer, 'personal opinion.'
If a police officer's personal opinion holds so much sway, perhaps we should start listening to some victims of rape to hear their 'opinions'
Thanks for posting this important issue!
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