Naming & Shaming Poll

  • MORI interviewed 1,004 British adults aged 18+
  • Interviews were conducted by telephone on 17-18 August 2000
  • Results are based on all respondents unless stated
  • Data are weighted to the known population profile
  • An '*' indicates a finding of less than 0.5%, but greater than zero
  • Poll conducted by MORI on behalf of The News of the World

QV1 How would you vote if there were a General Election tomorrow? (If undecided or refused at Q1) QV2 Which party are you most inclined to support?

Conservative 32%
Labour 51%
Liberal Democrats 12%
Scottish/Welsh Nationalist 1%
Green Party 2%
Democratic/UKIP/Referendum Party 0%
Other 2%

Would not vote 12%
Undecided 14%
Refused 5%

Q1 What, if anything, do you think could be done to improve the safety of children in your area?

160 %
More policing 24
Restrictions on speed limits/traffic control 23
More safe areas/parks for children to play in 16
Better parenting/responsibility for safety/care of children 13
More clubs/places to keep children/teenagers off the street 11
All adults/people should be aware/have more interest 7
Better community spirit/projects 4
More education on safety/self defence 4
More parking wardens 3
Public naming of convicted paedophiles 3
Tougher sentences for child attackers 3
Bringing back death penalty/capital punishment 2
Electronic tagging of convicted paedophiles 2

Nothing 7
Other 3
Don't know 16

Q2 The Government introduced the Sex Offenders Register to ensure that the police know where people who commit sexual offences are living. How effective do you think this has been so far? Would you say it has been very effective, fairly effective, not very effective, or not at all effective?

160 %
Very effective 7
Fairly effective 34
Not very effective 31
Not at all effective 13
Don't know 15

I am now going to read out a number of different statements. For each, please tell me whether you agree or disagree. Firstly,

Q3 People who are imprisoned for committing serious sexual crimes against children should never be set free

160 %
Agree 67
Disagree 23
Don't know 10

Q4 Convicted paedophiles should be publicly named

160 %
Agree 58
Disagree 34
Don't know 8

Q5 Local people should know if there is a convicted paedophile in their neighbourhood

160 %
Agree 76
Disagree 18
Don't know 6

Q6 Courts should have the power to prevent those convicted of sexual crimes against children from contacting or living near their victims after they have served their sentence

160 %
Agree 95
Disagree 3
Don't know 2

Q7 Criminals who have served their sentences are entitled to have their human rights protected, however serious the crimes they committed

160 %
Agree 43
Disagree 46
Don't know 11

Q8 Criminals who are put on the Sex Offenders Register should be required to register within 72 hours, and not within 14 days as at present

160 %
Agree 93
Disagree 4
Don't know 3

Q9 The penalty for failing to comply with the Sex Offenders Register should be increased from 6 months to 5 years imprisonment

160 %
Agree 84
Disagree 10
Don't know 6

Q10 As you may know, there has recently been controversy over the publication by the News of the World of names and photographs of people convicted of sex crimes against children. Do you think the News of the World was right or wrong to pursue this "naming and shaming policy"?

160 %
Right 38
Wrong 51
Neither 6
Don't know 5

Q11 You may have seen stories in the press recently about people who have been called vigilantes who take the law into their own hands by threatening or retaliating against people they think have committed sex crimes against children. In general, do you ...?

160 %
Sympathise with them and agree with them taking action 11
Sympathise with them but disagree with them taking action 73
Or not sympathise with them and disagree with them taking action 14
None of these *
Depends 1
Don't know 1

Q12 The "Sarah's Law" campaign wants to introduce a new law in Britain that would ensure every parent's right to controlled access to information about individuals in their neighbourhood who may pose a risk to their children. Sarah's Law would also include severe penalties for misuse of this information. The campaign is endorsed by the NSPCC, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Association of Chief Officers of Probation. Do you support or oppose the introduction of "Sarah's Law"? Is that strongly support/oppose or tend to support/oppose?

160 %
Strongly support 52
Tend to support 30
Neither support nor oppose 5
Tend to oppose 5
Strongly oppose 2
Don't know 6

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