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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Child sex warning scheme expanded | Child sex warning scheme expanded |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A pilot scheme allowing parents to check with police if someone close to their children has a history of child sex offending is being expanded. | A pilot scheme allowing parents to check with police if someone close to their children has a history of child sex offending is being expanded. |
| Provisional figures show officers received 79 official requests for information in the four trial areas. | Provisional figures show officers received 79 official requests for information in the four trial areas. |
| From Monday coverage will be extended across Cambridgeshire, Cleveland and Hampshire, where it had previously operated only in parts of the counties. | From Monday coverage will be extended across Cambridgeshire, Cleveland and Hampshire, where it had previously operated only in parts of the counties. |
| The scheme will continue in the entire Warwickshire area. | The scheme will continue in the entire Warwickshire area. |
| The project has been backed by the government's Victims' Champion Sara Payne, whose eight-year-old daughter Sarah was abducted and murdered by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting. | The project has been backed by the government's Victims' Champion Sara Payne, whose eight-year-old daughter Sarah was abducted and murdered by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting. |
| 'Better evaluation' | 'Better evaluation' |
| The case had prompted calls for a British "Sarah's Law", based on the so-called Megan's Law in the US which allows the publication of names, addresses and pictures of paedophiles in some states. | The case had prompted calls for a British "Sarah's Law", based on the so-called Megan's Law in the US which allows the publication of names, addresses and pictures of paedophiles in some states. |
| Under the scheme, parents, carers and guardians can ask police to tell them whether people who have access to their children have a record for child sexual offences. | |
| Police have the option to reveal information to them or take further action ifchildren are thought to be at risk. | |
| Out of the applications made in the pilot scheme, details were disclosed on 10 individuals - five in Warwickshire and five in Cleveland. The pilot has assisted in raising public awareness of child protection issues Keith BristowWarwickshire Chief Constable | Out of the applications made in the pilot scheme, details were disclosed on 10 individuals - five in Warwickshire and five in Cleveland. The pilot has assisted in raising public awareness of child protection issues Keith BristowWarwickshire Chief Constable |
| In one case information was passed on about a man with access to his new partner's grandchildren. | In one case information was passed on about a man with access to his new partner's grandchildren. |
| He had previously been investigated for child sex abuse and convicted of sex offences against adults. | He had previously been investigated for child sex abuse and convicted of sex offences against adults. |
| In another example police were contacted by a parent concerned about the behaviour of a family friend. | In another example police were contacted by a parent concerned about the behaviour of a family friend. |
| They discovered the man had apparently breached a court order that should have stopped him being alone with children, and he was arrested and charged. | They discovered the man had apparently breached a court order that should have stopped him being alone with children, and he was arrested and charged. |
| 'Better deal' | 'Better deal' |
| There were fears such a system could lead to vigilante attacks against offenders but there have been no cases so far. | There were fears such a system could lead to vigilante attacks against offenders but there have been no cases so far. |
| Warwickshire Chief Constable Keith Bristow, who speaks on violence and public protection for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said: "Extending the pilot sites across the forces will allow better evaluation on which to base future decisions. | Warwickshire Chief Constable Keith Bristow, who speaks on violence and public protection for the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said: "Extending the pilot sites across the forces will allow better evaluation on which to base future decisions. |
| "The police service is committed to protecting children from any individual who poses harm or risk and the pilot has assisted in raising public awareness of child protection issues. | "The police service is committed to protecting children from any individual who poses harm or risk and the pilot has assisted in raising public awareness of child protection issues. |
| "For those parents and carers who have made enquiries, we trust that it has helped give them confidence that their children are safe." | "For those parents and carers who have made enquiries, we trust that it has helped give them confidence that their children are safe." |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the pilot projects had given children a "better deal". | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the pilot projects had given children a "better deal". |