Editorial: Accused should be given fair treatment

On Saturday, we brought you the story of an accused paedophile living 700m from Tauranga Girls' College and close to five other schools.

Timothy Andrew Cossey, 43, faces 10 charges of sexual offending against minors, including raping a girl under the age of 12. He is living at a Tauranga City address within 2km of six schools and has freedom from his bail residence between 8am-6pm each day.

While Cossey's case is still before the courts, it raises the question of what society should do with people who face charges for alleged crimes against children.

Is it reasonable and just that those facing paedophilia allegations should be presumed innocent and allowed to live in a community where they can continue to interact with others?

Or do the freedoms of presumed innocence go out the window when the alleged crimes are horrific offending against children?

As a civilised culture, we do need to consider the basic human needs of an alleged offender. They need somewhere to live and, in the case of those facing allegations of crimes against children, the vast majority of dwellings are in fact near to schools or scout halls or netball courts or movie theatres.

Basically, it's hard to think of homes anywhere - except perhaps within industrial estates - where children do not spend time.

And, even if we did insist that an alleged paedophile be bailed to the whop-whops, there would presumably be nothing to stop them travelling to a mall where children gathered in the late afternoons.

Kevin McCormack, spokesman for the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties, told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend he believed it was important to remember those before the courts had not yet been found guilty.

I agree. Although I know many will feel differently, I believe it is up to parents to exercise vigilance, keeping their children as safe as possible every day.

Yes, it's stressful and frightening but I do not believe it is fair to expect the justice system to strip alleged offenders of their place in society, before they've even had a fair hearing in court, just so parents can be a little more cruisey about whether their children are chaperoned en route to school or properly supervised while waiting to be picked up from Brownies.

If an alleged paedophile is found guilty, the sentence should be harsh and unforgiving and the offender should endure extensive supervision when - or if - they are released from prison.

But until proven guilty, alleged offenders must be allowed to live.