Local activist Sandra Catron has come under fire by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) for her unofficial sex-offenders list.

Catron has created a Facebook page to name those who are convicted of abusing children or other sex-related crimes.

We, in the media, are not allowed to publish anything that could identify a victim in such criminal cases, therefore, often we cannot name the perpetrator(s). Because of the smallness of the Cayman Islands, the authorities could easily suggest that naming a sexual predator would identify a victim. This could lead to prosecution of the reporter and/or owners of the media house.

The RCIPS are not happy. A spokesperson for them told CNS, “The printing or publishing any information which could identify the victim of rape is an offence. The posting of names and photographs on this Facebook page causes us a great deal of concern. Firstly, the action could prejudice forthcoming court cases, but more importantly by identifying the accused this will in turn lead to the identification of the victim. In this latest case involving a 12-year-old girl, while she is not named on the Facebook page, anyone who knows the accused or recognises him in the posting will be able to identify the victim. Thus re-victimising a vulnerable child who has already suffered so much.”

Catron in her reply said, “Every effort is taken to remove any identifying information as it relates to the victim. However, victims will not be subjected to any harassment as a result of this. Most victims have given me their full support and discussed their horrific ordeal. The page will also include things like anonymous impact statements from victims so that we can all learn and see how these incidents really affect people.”

The problem with an unofficial list is that some sex offenders are teenagers and their crime consists of having a consensual relationship with someone a few years younger than them. There is also the problem with the rights of offenders to reclaim their lives after serving their sentences.

The definition of a sex offender is also a problem. Can the public actually discern genuine risk from a public sex offender database, especially an unofficial one.

The Facebook register will become its own form of punishment, which is contrary to how Catron actually intended it.

I think a sex-offenders list should be subject to repeat sexual predators and it should be an official one only.