Press release

The NSPCC is calling for tough action to prevent Gary Glitter travelling abroad again when he returns to the UK following his release from a Vietnamese prison.

As a convicted child sex offender who has a history of committing sexual crimes overseas, the NSPCC believes Glitter - whose real name is Paul Gadd – should be prevented from making more foreign trips to abuse children.

But the only possible ban is the Foreign Travel Order (FTO), which is considered so ineffective that only a handful have been issued against sex offenders since their introduction in 2003. They are not working because they need to be renewed every six months, backed by proof the offender still poses a risk to children.

The Society wants tighter measures to prevent Glitter, and other UK sex offenders, going abroad to abuse vulnerable children. But if they do manage to travel overseas there should be a better tracking system that does not allow them to ‘country-hop’ until the authorities lose track of them.

The NSPCC is also pushing the UK government to ensure that stringent measures are in place to manage and monitor Glitter’s movements when he returns to the UK .

NSPCC policy advisor Dr Zoe Hilton said: “Gary Glitter is a persistent offender responsible for a catalogue of sexual crimes against children. On his return to the UK , the authorities must assess the level of risk he poses to children and make sure he is carefully managed and supervised in the community to keep children safe from harm.

“We are also concerned that current travel prevention orders, designed to prevent offenders from going overseas, are not working. Hardly any have been issued against sex offenders in the past five years.

“We know about Glitter because of his fame, but there are many other sex offenders, not in the public eye, who are falling off the radar. His return raises important questions about how UK sex offenders are assessed and managed, in relation to the risk they pose to children abroad. 

“The UK government must do more to work in partnership with other governments and police to prosecute UK offenders who commit sex crimes against children overseas. All children, regardless of where they live, have the right to be protected from those who want to cause them harm.”

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NSPCC media office on 0207 825 2835 out of hours 07976 206625

Notes to editors

The NSPCC is the UK ’s leading children’s charity specialising in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. If you have concerns about a child please contact the NSPCC Helpline for free 24-hour advice on: 0808 800 5000.

The NSPCC’s purpose is to end cruelty to children FULL STOP. Its vision is of a society where all children are loved, valued and able to fulfil their potential. The NSPCC runs 180 projects and services across the United Kingdom and Channel Islands , including ChildLine, the UK ’s free, confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people. The NSPCC helps over 10,000 children and their families every year.