Call to improve existing abuse laws

As Gary Glitter begins life as free man in the UK after spending three years in a Vietnamese prison, the rock legend-turned-convicted criminal remains the subject of scrutiny.

Having been forced out of Hong Kong and Vietnam, he finally arrived home and was told he would have to sign the sex offenders register. Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was arrested in November 2005 at Ho Chi Minh airport as he tried to leave the country.

He was convicted in March 2006 of committing obscene acts with two girls aged 10 and 11.

Police were unable to comment on whether he has yet signed the register, but Claude Knights, director of children's charity Kidscape, said authorities needed to enforce existing laws to protect the public from paedophiles like Glitter.

She said she was worried about paedophiles that slipped "under the radar," but wanted to see existing laws strengthened rather than the implementation of a US-style law that allowed people to be notified when a paedophile moved into their neighbourhood.

"Even if there was a law, such as having a big red flashing light attached to paedophiles homes, I guarantee that would not protect every child," Ms Knights said.

Instead she called on the Government and the police to "use what is already in place," to regulate sexual offenders and protect children from abuse.

She said that judges should use the full sentencing powers given to them by the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

"In the UK the situation is quite well developed," she said. "Huge advances have been made, but sometimes securities have not been used effectively, and that's a great concern for anyone who has children."