INTRODUCTION

THE News of the World embarked on a campaign for the introduction of Sarah's Law following the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne in Sussex.

Our aim is to improve the protection of children from child sex offenders and it has the full backing of the schoolgirl's parents Sara and Michael Payne, as well as the public endorsement of the Association of Chief Police Officers, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Association of Chief Officers of Probation.

Since the News of the World started the campaign following Sarah's murder in July 2000, we have had further support for the objectives of Sarah's Law from Sir John Stevens, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, the Police Federation of England and Wales and more than a million of our readers.

You can find here the details of Sarah's Law and advice if you or a loved one are a victim of abuse.

Sarah Payne was snatched by predatory paedophile Roy Whiting, while playing with his sister and brothers on a summer afternoon in the Sussex countryside.

Whiting had a previous conviction for abduction and indecent assault on a nine-year-old girl.

He was sentenced to four years in prison but served only two and a half, and on his release was able to strike again - this time with fatal consequences.

He is now behind bars for life. Since we launched the For Sarah campaign, several more children have died or disappeared.

They include Cambridgeshire 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman and Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler, 15.

This campaign represents a damaged child, a ruined life - or like Sarah, Jessica and Holly - a life lost.