New criminal law is tough on paedophiles

Justice Minister Daniel Feetham

GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle/Brian Reyes) Foreign paedophiles could be banned from entering Gibraltar under new draft legislation published yesterday. The Crimes Bill consolidates criminal offences into one legislative text that modernises and streamlines the existing framework, toughening up sentences and introducing new offences and powers to close gaps. One of those new powers will enable the government to apply to the Magistrates Court for an “entry prohibition order” to stop non-Gibraltarian child sex offenders from entering Gibraltar. “We don’t want these people here in Gibraltar but at the moment we can’t prevent them from coming,” Justice Minister Daniel Feetham said. Police here are alerted through Interpol on the extremely rare occasions when convicted paedophiles are known to be heading to the area, but while efforts are made to keep tabs on them the system is not failsafe. (Read the full story online at The Gibraltar Chronicle)