Paedophiles & other sex offenders
When paedophiles and other sex offenders have served their sentences and been released back into the community, strong passions can be aroused in the place where they live. We should report such matters where there is a clear public interest while trying to avoid the following possible consequences:
- vigilante action.
- mistaken identity.
- driving the offender underground away from supervision where s/he is far more likely to re-offend.
- intrusion into an offender's privacy.
- negative impact on the victims and their families, or the family of the offender.
The BBC will normally only consider publishing the names or pictures of paedophiles or sex offenders who have served their sentences and been released from prison where the police have made these details public. Publication by other media is not a sufficient justification in itself. Any proposal to name a convicted paedophile or other sex offender, when their name has not been made publicly available by the police, or to publish pictures, must be referred to Controller Editorial Policy.
When reporting on paedophiles and other sex offenders or when exposing potential paedophiles or sex offenders we can name the town or city where they live, but should generally avoid giving sensitive details or addresses. We should also consider consulting with the relevant police force if we intend to report sensitive information or show a picture to enable the police to address management issues in relation to the victim, victim's family, offender and offender's family.
Interviews with paedophiles or other sex offenders will only occasionally be clearly editorially justified. Any proposal to interview a paedophile or other sex offender who has been convicted of serious offences in prison or on release from prison should be referred to a senior editorial figure or for Independents to the commissioning editor, who may also consult Controller Editorial Policy.