Posted on 05/28/2004 7:31:07 AM PDT by Barney Gumble
Sex offenders will be kept under surveillance by satellites and tested with lie detectors under new Government plans.The Home Secretary wants to use satellite-tracking for prisoners released on licence and offenders given community sentences.David Blunkett also wants to expand a new database which allows officers to share information on violent and sex offenders.
And he plans to allow police and probation services them to use lie detectors to make sure sex offenders are keeping to the conditions of their release.
Mr Blunkett told Sky News that satellite-tracking would be "a great safeguard, not just for sex offenders but for those repeat and prolific offenders who make our lives a misery where serious crime is committed".
He added: "It will act as a deterrent and ensure that people who are not supposed to go to certain parts of town or near a playground won't. Satellite-tracking acts as a prison without bars."
His proposed measures are the latest in his hard-line approach to policing and are sure to further anger the civil rights lobby.
The Government is already piloting the use of satellite-tracking of offenders who are released on licence.
But Mr Blunkett wants to change the law to extend it to those given community sentences, focusing on sex offenders and those found guilty of domestic abuse.
Although he will take note of the outcome of the pilot scheme, aides say he is determined to push ahead with the plan.
The Home Secretary also wants to make further use of lie detectors to ensure sex offenders are not breaking the terms of their release.
A spokesman for Mr Blunkett said: "We are finalising our preparations for our five-year plan and beyond and are focusing on using new technology to help us tackle offenders in a more effective way."
Perhaps the British courts should stop coddling the criminals and give them longer sentences instead? It seems more reasonable and practical.
THX 1132
<sarcasm>
Unless, of course, they can combine it with Star Wars technology to quick-fry an offender when he steps out of line.
At that point I fully expect to see it applied in the express checkout lines of supermarkets, along with RFID to identify those who have "too many items".
</sarcasm>
Sheep raisers use a 2 cent rubber band tightly wrapped around the testicles.
If you carry a cell phone, you are already being tracked by computer all the time.
Big Brother is really fixated on knowing where people are real time, ain't he?
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