I would be the first person to criticize the police if they failed to do their duty in protecting the public from a dangerous criminal, however a case in this morning’s paper highlights just what a thin line the police have to walk.
It concerns the arrest of a known paedophile, with a record stretching back over thirty years, (his known offences included attempted rape of nine and ten year old girls, rape of a seventy one year old woman – both at knifepoint and other sex offences as well) and who has to remain on the sex offenders register for life, and who was arrested and imprisoned when the North Yorkshire Police discovered he had moved from his home area of Southampton to Selby.
It concerns the arrest of a known paedophile, with a record stretching back over thirty years, (his known offences included attempted rape of nine and ten year old girls, rape of a seventy one year old woman – both at knifepoint and other sex offences as well) and who has to remain on the sex offenders register for life, and who was arrested and imprisoned when the North Yorkshire Police discovered he had moved from his home area of Southampton to Selby.
Roger Frampton - convicted paedophileRobin Frampton had told his wife that he was going to a friends house to a barbecue, but instead he travelled to meet a woman he had contacted through a satellite television dating service. He did call at the local police station and produced a document which suggested that he was no longer required to be on the sex offenders register, but he failed to give police the correct name and address of the woman he was visiting. The police suspecting something was wrong, traced him and arrested him for breaching the terms of his licence, which required him to notify police within three days of moving home permanently.
This vile creature claimed wrongful arrest and sadly the judge had to rule that the police could not know if Frampton had been away from home for more than 72 hours (by which time he must register with them if he is away from home). The judge also found that the police did not know if he was going to stay temporarily (which allowed him more than a week to register). She did go on to say “I do not doubt for one moment the integrity of the police officers. Frampton brought matters on his own head by lying left right and centre to the police.” As a result of these findings he has been awarded £3,075 compensation, and North Yorkshire police have been left with a bill of £25,000 costs.
Detective Superintendent Richard Mann said, “Confronted in such circumstances with such a high risk and dangerous individual, it is entirely right that North Yorkshire Police were concerned for the safety of the public.”
In the circumstances I think that the police should be commended for doing their job. Supposing they had taken Frampton at his word, and he had gone on to commit another offence (which seems most likely when he had lied to his wife and then gone off to meet a female he had contacted through a satellite television dating agency) there would have been a national outcry.
North Yorkshire Police have said that they will not change their approach if they face a similar set of circumstances in the future, but sadly it could cost them another £25,000. The people of North Yorkshire can sleep secure in their beds tonight.
This vile creature claimed wrongful arrest and sadly the judge had to rule that the police could not know if Frampton had been away from home for more than 72 hours (by which time he must register with them if he is away from home). The judge also found that the police did not know if he was going to stay temporarily (which allowed him more than a week to register). She did go on to say “I do not doubt for one moment the integrity of the police officers. Frampton brought matters on his own head by lying left right and centre to the police.” As a result of these findings he has been awarded £3,075 compensation, and North Yorkshire police have been left with a bill of £25,000 costs.
Detective Superintendent Richard Mann said, “Confronted in such circumstances with such a high risk and dangerous individual, it is entirely right that North Yorkshire Police were concerned for the safety of the public.”
In the circumstances I think that the police should be commended for doing their job. Supposing they had taken Frampton at his word, and he had gone on to commit another offence (which seems most likely when he had lied to his wife and then gone off to meet a female he had contacted through a satellite television dating agency) there would have been a national outcry.
North Yorkshire Police have said that they will not change their approach if they face a similar set of circumstances in the future, but sadly it could cost them another £25,000. The people of North Yorkshire can sleep secure in their beds tonight.
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