Parents Centre responds to outrage and fear in Palmerston North
"To calculate the risk of a paedophile in the neighbourhood is to shift the onus of responsibility to individual
parents and families," said Parents Centre CEO, Viv Gurrey.
"Keeping our communities safe, has to be a social priority. Everyone from government to the people next door have to be
involved and empowered,"
"The outrage of people in the Palmerston North community where a convicted paedophile was released earlier this week,
is justified"
"The desire of parents to protect their children from predators is one of our most basic instincts. Yet, we live in a
society that feeds sexual and social depravity with images of sex and violence, and which allows sexual predators too
much freedom."
"Palmerston North parents have a right to be concerned, and they have a right to protect their children from known
risks," said Mrs Gurrey
"Why is there not some kind of halfway or transition house for released paedophiles, who pose a risk to the community?"
Mrs Gurrey asked.
"Can local people really expect the mother of the released man to be the primary gatekeeper, when in all likelihood she
probably traumatised by her own hell?"
"The government owes local parents some peace of mind, and the right to raise their children free from unaceptable
risks," said Mrs Gurrey.