HAS there ever been any recorded case of a paedophile getting a video of a school sports day and using it to track down children? Or are we getting things utterly out of perspective?

The National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations has called on head teachers to ban cameras and video equipment from school events.

Well yes, I can think of many reasons for banning mum's camera from sports day - not least that your disastrous effort in the egg and spoon race, followed by a major sulk, will be shown gleefully at family events to embarrass you for the next 50 years.

But paedophiles?

Apparently so. The PTA thinks that home videos and phone pictures could make it easy for images of children to be used by paedophiles.

Oh dear.

Yes of course there are a number of very sad and twisted creatures out there. But we're in danger of getting paranoid about it all. Presumably, all the people filming at sports days and nativity plays are going to be parents or relations anyway.

But anyone filming their own kids on a beach is seriously suspect now - in case someone else gets caught on camera. Pensioners happily watching children at play are lucky if they don't get their houses daubed. Any touching between an adult and an unrelated child is immediately suspected of being inappropriate - though sometimes a comforting hug for a child in distress can be the most appropriate action of all.

Children were always taught to be wary of strangers - look what nearly happened to Red Riding Hood. But these days, not only would the big bad wolf get it in the neck, but also probably the helpful woodcutter who rescued Red Riding Hood.

What was he doing watching the little girl? Bound to be a weirdo.

But now children are not just wary, they're downright suspicious of anyone's motives, which must give them a sad and cynical view of the world. That, as much as anything, has destroyed their innocence.

There is a danger, and we have to be sensible. But if we're determined to protect our children from sexual abuse, there are other more pressing concerns.

For a start, we could turn our attention to the increasing number of 11, 12 and 13-year-old girls who get pregnant, which strikes me as rather more distressing than having your photograph taken by your schoolmate's gran.

We could remember too that most child abuse actually takes place in the victim's home, by someone they know. For many children, that is the most dangerous place.

But if we want to protect our children from gazes by strangers and possible paedophiles, then, logically, we will eventually follow the example of Michael Jackson.

Our children, like his, will soon be allowed out only if they're concealed behind big black veils.

Is that what we want? Because if we're not careful, that's exactly where we're heading.