IT is common practice for politicians - national and local - to blame the media when they get themselves into a mess.

The present controversy over sex offenders working in schools is a case in point.

Barry Sheerman, Labour chairman of the education select committee, says decisions on the issue should be taken calmly and not amid "a media-driven hysteria".

The media's hysteria resulted from ministers backing the appointment of a PE teacher in Norwich even though he had a police caution for accessing child pornography and had been placed on the sex offenders' register.

The hysteria was heightened by the subsequent revelation that "a small number" of similar cases were to be reviewed.

And now - as the hysteria refuses to die down - Education Secretary Ruth Kelly is to rush through laws to tighten up restrictions on sex offenders working in schools. These are the same laws which were supposed to have been "urgent" 18 months ago after the inquiry into the Soham murders.

Is it hysteria or is it the media simply reflecting the anger and bewilderment of parents throughout the country that such crass decisions could be made?

Barry Sheerman is absolutely right. Decisions on this hugely important issue should be taken calmly. In fact, they should have been taken calmly a long time ago.

The bottom line should be clear. Call us hysterical, but anyone found guilty of being involved in the abuse of children should never be employed in schools.