Chris Cloke, head of child protection awareness at the NSPCC, took part in a live debate this morning about sex offenders on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour.

Also appearing on the show was Helen Reece, a family law expert at the London School of Economics, who has produced a report saying:

• sex offenders should not automatically be banned from adopting, fostering or working with children
• she is backing government plans to relax vetting procedures
• she argues couples who split up cause children emotional harm, yet they are not banned from going on to adopt children
• she says sex offenders have relatively low conviction rates compared to other types of offenders

Our position is:

• there is always a risk that a sex offender could reoffend, even if they have been treated
• conviction rates of sex offenders may be low, however much sexual abuse is hidden and goes unreported
• the NSPCC knows from its calls to ChildLine, the deep hurt sex abuse causes
• we need to remember the right of the child to protection from abuse

Please listen online to the debate on the BBC iPlayer to hear our arguments on this important subject in detail, and of course get in touch if you have any comments or questions.