Anger at pervert claims

Sep 18 2002 By Elgan Hearn, Holyhead And Anglesey Mail

WORRIED mothers are campaigning to ensure that the next Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman tragedy will not involve their children.

Several mothers from Pencraig, Llangefni, criticised the police for not consulting them about relocating paedophiles to the area.

They are now collecting names to support Sarah's Law, as they believe they have seen at least one convicted paedophile in Llangefni.

This action was decided on after one mother believes she saw a known convicted paedophile walking the streets of Llangefni, and she believes this man now lives somewhere in the town.

In light of the recent abduction and murder of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, and with the memory of Sarah Payne still fresh, the Llangefni mothers believe it is time for the Government to take a tough stance with child molesters and paedophiles.

Concerned mother, Leslie Jones, said: "We've heard that there are at least three paedophiles living in Llangefni.

"I've already seen one; my blood went cold when I saw him walking along Llangefni's High Street.

"I believe he had been forced out of his last home and I now believe he has been living in council accommodation, so I rang up the council to check and they have stated that they don't have a council tenancy agreement with him.

"One of the reasons why we have organised this petition is to highlight a loophole when convicted paedophiles register with the police. A paedophile has 14 days to register: for a fortnight he is completely unsupervised and could be harming children again.

"The police should be watching their every move rather than picking on motorists for speeding."

Another mother, Dawn Cleator, said: "We know these people have to live somewhere, perhaps they could be sent to Puffin Island, or a town where there is a far higher elderly population, instead of somewhere like Pencraig where we have a lot of young children. We're getting so wound up about our children's safety you feel like tagging them: it's these sick paedophiles who should be tagged."

Mother of three, Marina Griffiths, added: "Anytime the children want to go to the shops, we always tell them to go in a group, you can't help it these days.

"But in doing this we are instilling negative attitudes in them, it can frighten the children, and we are scared when they're out. What right have the government and police to put us in this position?"

The mothers plan to take the petition to Albert Owen MP in the hope that he can push for the tougher legislation.

A police spokeswoman said: "We have a Public Protection Unit in all our divisions who monitor sex and dangerous offenders: if there is any risk we will respond appropriately."