AN EXPERT in the treatment of sex offenders said the needs of justice should come before the needs of abusers as he praised The Northern Echo’s campaign Keep Kids Safe.

The crusade was launched earlier this month after a series of court cases raised concerns about the number of sex offenders – often those who download images of child abuse from the internet – walk free.

Approved treatment programmes in prison are only available to convicts who are sentenced to over two years – and the recommended tariff for abusive images is less than that.

Simon Hackett, professor at Durham University and Vice Chair of the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers (NOTA), told The Northern Echo: “I really applaud what you are doing.

“This is a question about justice, as well as treatment.

“I think if that is happening in the criminal justice system then we have got into a bit of a muddle.

“In some cases it might be that the right cause of action is to convict, to see justice for the victim. Those criminal justice decisions need to be based on justice for the victim rather than the availability of treatment services.

“We would hope that justice and treatment would follow hand in hand. The need for justice should come before the needs of the offender, not the other way around.

“But at the same time, just locking someone up is not good child protection policy because it means when people get back out, they are still a risk to children.”

Professor Hackett said he would raise the issue at NOTA’s next policy committee. The organisation , made up of experts, helps advise on Government policy in sex offender treatment.

He said provision of treatment for sex offenders was patchy across the country and called for the transition from custody back into the community to be smoother.

One of the major issues was that one third of convicted, cautioned or referred sex offenders was under 18, he said, and treatment for child or adolescent sex offenders fell well short.

“It adds another complex dimension,” he said. “Treatment services in the community tend to be very patchy. They might be placed in a children’s home, or foster care, with a requirement that someone tries to help but we do need better treatment than this.”