“The sentences would need to be more severe. For example, the maximum sentence for making an indecent video of a child is 10 years, but, in reality, hardly anyone goes to prison for such offences. If it became a minimum sentence of five years, that may have more of a deterrent. However, the CPS would then offer a ‘deal’ to the accused person.
“They would not be sent to prison if they gave details to the police of every person they have communicated with online re: sexual offences. A minimum number of contacts would need to be given up, say 10.”
The accused person would still receive a conviction, Mr Johnstone emphasised, and would be monitored for several years, or indefinitely, by the police in an effort to ensure there is no further offending – which he said already happens.
This approach would also reduce the number of men in “chat rooms” – Mr Johnstone thinks.
He added: “It could be taken further. More ‘privileges’ may be earned if the arrested man worked with the police to infiltrate the chat room continuously, and identify other paedophiles.”
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However, Mr Johnstone is concerned that this is something that the Government would not agree to, even though it would “identfy thousands of new sex offenders”.
“Imagine the headline: ‘500% increase in child rapes in 12 months.’ In reality, of course, there would not be more child rapes, only that more perpetrators have been caught.
“We would need more police, and more prison places. But the Government does not have the funding, or the will, to implement such a change.
“And so we continue with a broken system that doesn’t work. It is not fit for purpose. It is failing the public. It does not protect children. It encourages crime.”
