Marc- My- Words 23 Oct 2004

I Say To Paedophiles – The Ball Is In Our Court… The Criminal Court!

Recently I received an email from a person who signed himself off as a ‘person traumatised by anti-paedophilia hysteria in an anti-paedophile world’. Let me say from the outset that I am glad that we do live in such a world – I can find no excuse, ever, for excusing paedophilia.

As to the content of the epistle, the anonymous author writes, “Dear Marc Alexander, your actions against paedophilia disgusts me. Your neglect of care towards persons with sexual attractions to children is astounding”.

He goes on to say, “Your actions make me sick. The paedophile community will never forgive you”. This pathetic individual then concludes by wishing me ”happy holidays” by which I assume he means school holidays.

Given the date I received this communication I can only surmise that it was in response to my comments about a paedophilic predator released from prison against the better judgment of all concerned, simply because the law allowed no alternative choice. If that’s the case then the law needs to change. No ifs, buts or maybes.

Despite the prevalent belief that child molesters have low re-offending rates, there is another disturbing reality. A 25-year study showed that up to 75% of paedophiles registered new offences during that period. The point is that the sick appetites of paedophiles will not be curbed by a regime of inkblot watching and self-esteem counselling, but require more invasive treatment. While the cognitive behaviourists insist their interventions are working, this is largely a ‘head in the sand’ school of argument because typically, these offenders are white, middle class and educated enough not to get caught right away, hence the low initial rates of recidivism. Just because we haven’t caught them yet doesn’t mean they’re not committing the crimes! And as the 25-year study shows … they do eventually get caught.

So what should we do with them?

If we take the European and US approach then we could impose chemical castration as a condition of parole. A number of countries already use surgical and chemical castration to good effect with stunning cuts in recidivism rates in Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Germany Iceland and many states in USA. Depo-Provera for example, has been used quite successfully. Also, a new drug Triptorelin would be a good place to start. While Depo-Provera has reduced paedophile recidivism from 50% to below 5%, Triptorelin has been reported in the New England Journal of Medicine to have a success rate of 100% when used in conjunction with psychotherapy.

What’s more, the side effects are minimal and can be administered easily by monthly injection. Chemical castration cuts reoffending as it cuts unacceptable urges. It works.

While some might find such conditions cruel and unusual, I would argue that paedophilia is even more cruel and has more negative and abnormal effects on the victim. The effect on children is devastating, requiring years of healing and in many cases predisposing the victim to become perpetrators themselves.

At some point we do have to draw a line that cannot be crossed and no matter how distasteful it may appear, use what works and discard what doesn’t. The bottom line is that chemical castration does work for paedophiles. Perhaps this would be helpful to the author of that miserable email to me, though in his case, paedophilia may be one of a number of problems he suffers from. Maybe he could benefit from the kindest cut of all.

Marc Alexander MP. United Future NZ

ENDS

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