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| Sex offender alerts plan launched | Sex offender alerts plan launched |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Parents will be able to ask if someone close to their family is a sex offender under new pilot schemes in England. | Parents will be able to ask if someone close to their family is a sex offender under new pilot schemes in England. |
| Under the measures, police will be able to tell families if someone with access to a child has convictions or has been previously suspected of abuse. | Under the measures, police will be able to tell families if someone with access to a child has convictions or has been previously suspected of abuse. |
| The year-long projects will be run in Warwickshire, Cambridgeshire, Cleveland and Hampshire. | |
| The move comes after a campaign for a US-style "Megan's law" - but the scheme falls short of a "right to know". | The move comes after a campaign for a US-style "Megan's law" - but the scheme falls short of a "right to know". |
| Calls for a scheme began after the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne by a man already convicted of sex offences. | Calls for a scheme began after the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne by a man already convicted of sex offences. |
| But some charities have warned the schemes could lead to vigilante attacks, and could drive offenders further underground. | But some charities have warned the schemes could lead to vigilante attacks, and could drive offenders further underground. |
| SEX OFFENDER DISCLOSURE PILOTS WarwickshireCleveland (Stockton area)Hampshire (Southampton area)Cambridgeshire (Northern division, including Peterborough) Will sex offender pilots work?Offender alerts: Five scenarios | SEX OFFENDER DISCLOSURE PILOTS WarwickshireCleveland (Stockton area)Hampshire (Southampton area)Cambridgeshire (Northern division, including Peterborough) Will sex offender pilots work?Offender alerts: Five scenarios |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith hailed the pilots as a "huge step forward" in helping parents to protect their children. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith hailed the pilots as a "huge step forward" in helping parents to protect their children. |
| Sarah's mother, Sara Payne, welcomed the pilots, but she said they were only a "first step" in a continuing battle. | Sarah's mother, Sara Payne, welcomed the pilots, but she said they were only a "first step" in a continuing battle. |
| Under the pilots, parents, carers and guardians will be able to ask the police for information about people directly involved in their own children's lives. | Under the pilots, parents, carers and guardians will be able to ask the police for information about people directly involved in their own children's lives. |
| Scenarios could include a single mother who wants to find out about her new boyfriend; parents with concerns about a neighbour who plays with their children; or perhaps even informal sports coaching beyond schools or recognised organisations. | Scenarios could include a single mother who wants to find out about her new boyfriend; parents with concerns about a neighbour who plays with their children; or perhaps even informal sports coaching beyond schools or recognised organisations. |
| In each of the pilot areas police will be obliged to look into the background of individuals and consider providing information to parents. | In each of the pilot areas police will be obliged to look into the background of individuals and consider providing information to parents. |
| This might include confirmation of a previous conviction for sexual offences, domestic violence or an indication that the individual is showing worrying signs of being a danger to children. | This might include confirmation of a previous conviction for sexual offences, domestic violence or an indication that the individual is showing worrying signs of being a danger to children. |
| Full risk-assessment | Full risk-assessment |
| Police will run two types of checks on the individual - a priority check within 24 hours and a full risk-assessment within 10 working days. | Police will run two types of checks on the individual - a priority check within 24 hours and a full risk-assessment within 10 working days. |
| If the person is found to have convictions for child sex offences, the case will be referred to a multi-agency panel of representatives from the police, probation and prison services, and other agencies. | If the person is found to have convictions for child sex offences, the case will be referred to a multi-agency panel of representatives from the police, probation and prison services, and other agencies. |
| The panel may choose not to disclose information, such as convictions, if it concludes the individual no longer poses a risk to youngsters. | The panel may choose not to disclose information, such as convictions, if it concludes the individual no longer poses a risk to youngsters. |
| However, there is a presumption that parents will be told if the person does pose a serious risk. | However, there is a presumption that parents will be told if the person does pose a serious risk. |
| Parents could face court action if they pass on information about an offender to others in their community, a move designed to prevent vigilantism. | Parents could face court action if they pass on information about an offender to others in their community, a move designed to prevent vigilantism. |
| Other people unconnected to a child who ask for information about a potential suspect will not be given information, even if their concerns turn out to warrant action. | Other people unconnected to a child who ask for information about a potential suspect will not be given information, even if their concerns turn out to warrant action. |
| Ms Smith: "There are few crimes more damaging, more emotive and more sensitive than sexual offences against children. I want to see every child living their lives free from fear. | Ms Smith: "There are few crimes more damaging, more emotive and more sensitive than sexual offences against children. I want to see every child living their lives free from fear. |
| "Giving parents the ability to find out if someone close to their child poses a risk will empower them. | "Giving parents the ability to find out if someone close to their child poses a risk will empower them. |
| "With the help and support of police and other agencies, it will also help them to understand how to better protect their children. | "With the help and support of police and other agencies, it will also help them to understand how to better protect their children. |
| "These pilots, which have been developed in conjunction with leading children's charities and campaigners, are a huge step forward." | "These pilots, which have been developed in conjunction with leading children's charities and campaigners, are a huge step forward." |
| Lessons would be learned about the management of sex offenders during the trial, Ms Smith added. | Lessons would be learned about the management of sex offenders during the trial, Ms Smith added. |
| Vigilante attacks | Vigilante attacks |
| Diana Sutton, head of policy at the NSPCC, said time would tell whether the schemes kept children safer or merely created a "false sense of security". | Diana Sutton, head of policy at the NSPCC, said time would tell whether the schemes kept children safer or merely created a "false sense of security". |
| "We strongly urge people to remain alert to the fact that not all child abusers have criminal records because many are not caught and charged with an offence," she said. | "We strongly urge people to remain alert to the fact that not all child abusers have criminal records because many are not caught and charged with an offence," she said. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Parents have a right to know if their children are at riskMark, LondonSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Parents have a right to know if their children are at riskMark, LondonSend us your comments |
| Child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation said it was concerned publicity around the pilot projects could drive sex offenders underground, and called for careful monitoring of their impact. | Child protection charity the Lucy Faithfull Foundation said it was concerned publicity around the pilot projects could drive sex offenders underground, and called for careful monitoring of their impact. |
| And crime reduction charity Nacro chief executive Paul Cavadino agreed the risk of attacks could prove to be counter-productive. | And crime reduction charity Nacro chief executive Paul Cavadino agreed the risk of attacks could prove to be counter-productive. |
| "The real test of these pilots will be whether this information can be kept confidential to the parents or whether it spreads to other people, causing a risk of vigilante attacks." | "The real test of these pilots will be whether this information can be kept confidential to the parents or whether it spreads to other people, causing a risk of vigilante attacks." |
| But Sara Payne welcomed what she called the beginning of the end of "secret-keeping", saying it had been "a long eight years" of campaigning since her daughter's murder. | But Sara Payne welcomed what she called the beginning of the end of "secret-keeping", saying it had been "a long eight years" of campaigning since her daughter's murder. |
| "Secret-keeping is the biggest tool and weapon [that sex offenders] have against our children," she said. | "Secret-keeping is the biggest tool and weapon [that sex offenders] have against our children," she said. |
| "This is about taking away the fear that you have as a parent about who they may be playing with. This is about positive parenting: be open about it, get your kids to talk." | "This is about taking away the fear that you have as a parent about who they may be playing with. This is about positive parenting: be open about it, get your kids to talk." |
| West Mercia Chief Constable Paul West, the senior police spokesman on child protection policy, said: "These pilots empower the parent to take the initiative and register an interest in an individual. | West Mercia Chief Constable Paul West, the senior police spokesman on child protection policy, said: "These pilots empower the parent to take the initiative and register an interest in an individual. |
| "I don't think it will open the floodgates - but I do think that there will be people who will come forward with concerns." | "I don't think it will open the floodgates - but I do think that there will be people who will come forward with concerns." |