LONDON - The News of the World newspaper has been forced into a humiliating climbdown as it ended its campaign of "naming and shaming" paedophiles.
The decision to abandon its pledge to identify up to 110,000 child sex offenders followed strong criticism from the police, politicians and children's charities. The publication
of 82 names and photographs of convicted paedophiles has led to a spate of violent demonstrations and innocent people being driven from their homes. The worst of the vigilante violence erupted on Friday in Portsmouth when a mob of 150 people wrecked the empty flat of a named offender and set fire to a car.
At least six people with the same names or appearance as offenders identified by the newspaper have been wrongly targeted by vigilantes.
The News of the World said it would continue its campaign for a public register of sex offenders. The paper said the "For Sarah" campaign, named after the murdered 8-year-old Sarah Payne, was intended to ensure "controlled access" to the information.
The decision to end naming and shaming is an embarrassing blow for the newspaper's new editor, Rebekah Wade, who has received death threats over the campaign. The paper's managing editor, Stuart Kettner, said: "There have been a number of threats to members of staff ... We have taken extensive security measures."
However, the paper claimed a partial success, pointing out that the Government had promised to give "urgent" consideration to the idea of a national register of sex offenders that would be available to the general public.
A register already exists, but it is limited in scope, is held by police and cannot be widely consulted.
The News of the World wants any legislation eventually adopted on setting up a public paedophile register to be called Sarah's Law, after the murdered schoolgirl.
Kettner denied suggestions that the campaign had put children at risk and said those adults who have been wrongly attacked were mistakenly identified.
Paul Cavadino, of the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, said: "The campaign has contributed to an atmosphere in which lawlessness has flourished, innocent members of the public have been targeted by vigilantes and offenders have gone to ground."
- INDEPENDENT
