Paedophile pilot launched

[15 September 2008]

Parents will be able to find out if someone with access to their children is a sex offender, in a new scheme launched today.

The year-long project will allow families in four areas to find out if people in any way close to their children have convictions or have previously been suspected of abuse. The pilot comes after campaigns to implement a UK-version of the US 'Megan's law'. Campaigning for the scheme began after eight-year-old Sarah Payne was murdered by a man already convicted of sex offences. However, some charities have warned that such schemes could lead to vigilante attacks, and could drive offenders further underground.

The pilot will take place in Warwickshire, Stockton in Cleveland, Southampton in Hampshire and the northern area of Cambridgeshire. Parents, carers and guardians will be able to ask police for information about people directly involved in their children's lives. Examples include a single mother who wants to find out about her new boyfriend; parents with concerns about a neighbour who plays with their children; informal sports coaching outside of school. Police will then be obliged to look into the backgrounds of individuals before considering to give the information to the parents. Police can choose not to disclose information if child protection teams have concluded that the individual no longer poses a threat to children.

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