Gary Glitter

[snapdarlich]

Just heard he may face the death penalty!

Why don't they just castrate sex offenders?

He deserves what he gets - good to know that you can run, but can't hide!

[hopalong]

Castration may stop the rape or under age sex but it wont stop them from touching or forcing young kids to touch them.

[Typhoid]

Fair enough OEV ..... don't mean to take up an argument just find this a VERY emotive issue and if there is DNA evidence I think they should have anything the law can give them - and pref ship them over to Texas!

[Oneeyedvic]

Typhoid - I think this is a huge problem in our society - that this is such an emotive issue and there is a presumption of guilt rather than a presumption of innocence.

There are very few male primary school teachers now - what male would want a rewarding career when one false alegation can completely ruin him.

Take another example: http://www.itweek.co.uk/itweek/comment/2085900/beware-trojans-bearing-gifs?vnu_lt=itw_art_related_articles

Because this is such an emotive issue - the chap in the aforementioned article almost lost everything for a crime he did not commit.

[jake-the-peg]

Hopalong

In the Danish trials women had their overies removed - this seemd similarly effective.

I was really surprised by this whole castration buisness I was ready to totally put it down but looking at the experiences abroad I really think it looks worth trying.

Trouble is it's so emotive it'd take a very brave politician to get behind it and they're few and far between

[mimififi]

I would agree to castration for seriel sex offenders, abuse to children or anyone else frankly. Their 'problem' not only breaks other people's lives, but also stops them from living normal lives themselves. If it works, then it does seem to be a solution.

I have four girls, and when I think of their perfect innocent little selves, I would support anything that would potentially give greater protection for them and girls around the world like them.

I don't think that anyone here is suggesting that we do these things to glitter IF he is innocent, but I'm not sure how likely that is going to be.

[123paul]

Wow, you know he is guilty even before he has been charged, let alone tried. Yould save the criminal justice system millions!

GG worst crime is ***** songs & clothes.

Good job we don't need any facts in order to wrok up a lynch mob.

Now, where's my pitchfork....

[Buddy]

Vic - First oppurtunity to reply.

You are totally right - it is emotive and faced with facts you cant argue with them.

I believe however he was with his Cuban girfriend when she wan underage and was with her for a good number of years. (Pedantic perhaps).

I also believe there is no smoke without fire and although you quite rightly countered each of my claims - they were valid enough to be countered - if you know what I mean !

[mimififi]

I didn't say he should be charged and that he didn't need a trial. I said, I wasn't SURE how likely his innocence would be. That is my opinion, and seeing as I'm not actually on the jury, I think that I am allowed to have an opinion. I didn't say he was guilty, I just implied that he is likely guilty of something, if not everything, and obviously the authorities are trying to gain as much hard evidence as poss or they wouldn't be detaining him further......you don't need to get your knickers in a twist about it. I don't think we are in danger of a massive, society shaking, Gary-Glitter-Gate miscarriage of justice here. I think we are proceeding slow and steady.

And I don't actually believe that you have a pitchfork 123Paul, I think you made that up....

[Supernick]

Do we think that sex offences concerning children are based on sexual urges, or a power based urge? I'll be the first to admit that I don't know, but does castration change the will for power and domination or just quell a sexual urge? Everyone appears to be in complete agreement that rape is a power based crime, and so I wonder if castration would have any effect at all other than satisfying the revenge driven blood lust of the mob.

Do people want them castrated and released? Are we not safer by not taking a chance and locking them up for longer? If you want them locked up for life then what is the point in castration? Why are people who are so pro castration, which is a really radical step not calling for a simple life imprisonment which seems less radical to me? I've got so many questions i can hardly get them out.

[mimififi]

I have limited understanding about castration, I shall admit, but if, as my understanding is, castration alters the hormone balance, presumably reduces testosterone? wouldn't this have a calming effect in general and thus reduce the urge for power and dominance???

I agree I would like to see sex offenders kept away from society for good, frankly, and the dangerous ones generally are, I suppose, but the offenders who have only committed sex crimes and not murders related to those crimes are let out. Hence the whole group that Sarah Paynes mum set up, trying to get communities informed about the whereabouts of these people to protect out children better...... With the best will in the world, with rocketing numbers inside (they used to say there are more out than in, but these days, it's debateable) what can they do. There are only so many places in prisons, and in order to safe guard the dangerous ones, some of the less dangerous ones get out...

I would prefer to see criminals behaviour corrected so we can all live fullfilled lives, if castration is a way of doing this, then it gets my vote.

p.s if castration calms the agressive, abusive male down, could it realistically be extended to treat those guilty of football hooliganism too??????? I guess that's pushing it a bit?

[crumpeter]

He is a predatory molester, who left this country to carry on with his perverted lifestyle. As long as he keeps getting away with it, A message is being sent to other paedophiles telling them its alright to go abroad and do it. He deserves every bullet that comes his way.

[El D]

Is anyone on here in favour of trying to cure sex offenders?

[joko]

Castration removes not only the equipment but the desire to use it altogether. so with no sexual urges they won't even want the kids to touch them.

[Oneeyedvic]

El D - I suspect most people's cure would be a 9mm wide piece of lead.

But interestingly, if (and only if) castration was proved to be a cure, and a convicted paedophile was to be castrated, should he then be set free?

[mimififi]

if he hadsnt been given a life sentence, and not all sex offenders are, then he will inevitably be set free. I would rather he were 'cured' before being set free, than set free to re-offend.

[El D]

I think, to the best of my knowledge anyway, that the factors motivating paedophiles are psychological. It's not necessarily a hormonal issue. While they might provide some of the drive, they do nothing to destroy the underlying desires. All these punishment beatings, stonings or whatever the mob is crying for simply close the door after the horse has bolted. We must find a way to stop them before they harm - and to do this we must find a way to cure existing paedophiles, not simply maim them and set them free.

If castration was proved to be effective, then perhaps we could move on to other forms of mutilation. If you cut a thiefs hands off, he can never steal again? Perhaps we could brand criminals on the forehead with a letter denoting their crime.

[123paul]

Yes, or as an alternative to branding we could make them wear a coloured triangle, different colours for different levels of social unacceptability. oh, hang on, that's been done before....

The rabid attitude of people here sickens me as much as GG does.

[typhoid2]

rabid attitude?! interesting analogy 123P! my doggy - who is curled up as a foot warmer at the moment! - says you be a bit emotional yourself! I don't think it is wrong to want to protect innocent children ... but I do agree with OEV ... this is a very emotive topic and people can go too far ... but hey ... everyone gets what they deserve in the end! and on that comforting thought ... nite nite!

[Adampy]

OMG He is so UGLY!!! What a dog!