Minimum term for paedophiles

Serious sex offenders could face indefinite sentences under tough plans being considered by the Liberal Democrats.

Serious sex offenders could face indefinite sentences under tough plans being considered by the Liberal Democrats.

Simon Hughes, the party's home affairs spokesman, argued at the conference yesterday that the change would mean a more controlled release of convicted paedophiles. They would be given a minimum tariff when sentenced but courts would assess their circumstances and whether satisfactory arrangements had been made for their release into society.

The plan was among a series of measures supported by delegates and aimed at addressing concerns in light of the murder in July of the eight-year-old Sarah Payne, who was abducted from West Sussex.

Since her death, her parents have advocated changes in the law that would give the public the right to be informed about a paedophile living in their area - a proposal introduced as the so-called Megan's law in the United States.

Mr Hughes used his speech to condemn the campaign by the News of the World to "name and shame" sex offenders that resulted in vigilante attacks across the country, saying the newspaper had been "entirely irresponsible and self-serving".

He said victims should be entitled to know the date of their attacker's release from prison and their whereabouts afterwards, but there also needed to be access to treatment programmes for sex offenders.