Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer

Inappropriate news reporting of sexual offences perpetrated against, or involving children has drawn the ire of at least one resident magistrate who is recommending that decisive action be taken to stop this practice.

"I have yet to see a prosecution being brought against a media company in Jamaica for revealing the identity of a child and it is happening almost daily!" exclaimed Paula Blake Powell, resident magistrate for the Corporate Area Criminal Court and chairman of the Eastern Circuit of Children's Courts.

The RM brought the matter yesterday to the attention of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament considerating amendments to two bills relating to sexual offences - one, the Incest (Punishment) Act and the other in respect of crimes committed under the Offences Against the Person Act.

There were many instances, she said, in which details of cases before the court were reported in enough detail so that the identity of the child victim of a sexual offence is revealed, even without the name of the young victim being explicitly stated.

Little guess necessary

"We have been having a lot of publication in the media of details of sexual offences in which you don't have to guess too hard to identify the complainant. When you name Mr. Tom Strokes, charged for incest, and he lives at 12 Apple Lane, everybody knows!"

Senator A.J Nicholson, chairman of the Committee, supported the RM's sentiments and, in doing so, invited the media to consider the expression "physician, heal thyself!"

Accordingly, media representatives will be invited to attend the next meeting of the committee to explain their approach to reporting on matters relating to sex crimes against or involving children.

The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) will be asked to send representatives from the print and electronic media for this discussion at the next sitting of the Joint Select Committee considering the two pieces of legislation relating to sexual offences.

In her submission to the committee, Mrs. Blake Powell recommended that no exception be made to the existing prohibition against 'publication of particulars of the complainant' in the relevant legislation. Furthermore, she said, fines for breach should be raised to $1 million or 12 months' imprisonment.