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Parents get new sex crime checks Parents get new sex crime checks
(about 1 hour later)
Parents may get new powers to check if people with access to their children have paedophile convictions.Parents may get new powers to check if people with access to their children have paedophile convictions.
The scheme could be rolled out across England and Wales if trials are successful but the Home Office says information will be tightly controlled. The scheme could be rolled out across England and Wales if trials in four regions are successful.
It will allow single mothers to ask police whether potential boyfriends have child sex convictions. It will allow single mothers to ask police whether a named individual - such as a carer or new partner - has child sex convictions.
Campaigner Sara Payne said the scheme was a step in the right direction but she still wants full disclosure.Campaigner Sara Payne said the scheme was a step in the right direction but she still wants full disclosure.
Family members or neighbours who regularly look after children could also be checked under the new proposals.Family members or neighbours who regularly look after children could also be checked under the new proposals.
Trials will take place in Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Cleveland and Warwickshire.Trials will take place in Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Cleveland and Warwickshire.
Disclosure controlsDisclosure controls
Police and probation services will be able to decide what information to release and there will be careful controls on disclosure, but if children are thought to be at risk it is understood their guardians will be told.Police and probation services will be able to decide what information to release and there will be careful controls on disclosure, but if children are thought to be at risk it is understood their guardians will be told.
There are few crimes more evil and shocking than sex offences against children Home Secretary Jacqui Smith It is not a community-wide disclosure. It is not something that some have feared would drive sex offenders underground Home Secretary Jacqui Smith
Writing in The News of the World, Ms Smith said: "The system we're working on will ensure that parents and carers will be informed of anyone's offending history where a child is at risk. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith stressed the initiative would not see a free-for-all with information given out to anyone who asks.
"The police and probation services will have the discretion to consider each case on its own merits and disclosure will be carefully controlled in all cases." Under the scheme, parents could register an interest with police about a named individual, such as a new partner or someone who looks after their children, she told BBC1's The Politics Show.
Ms Smith added: "There are few crimes more evil and shocking than sex offences against children. But there would be "tight conditions" over who could register.
"It provokes strong emotions and strong views - and rightly so. "If there were any sex offences recorded against the individual in whom they are declaring an interest, there would be a presumption that they would be disclosed to that person," Ms Smith added.
"Britain is one of the leading countries for managing registered sex offenders, and we've done a lot in recent years to improve public protection. But I am clear that we can do more." "It is not a community-wide disclosure. It is not something that some have feared would drive sex offenders underground. It is a sensible way to ensure we have more information out there to protect children in the most effective way."
Rational approachRational approach
The News of the World championed the "Sarah's Law" campaign which called for parents to be allowed to see details of any convicted paedophiles living in their area. The move has been hailed as a partial victory for the "Sarah's Law" campaign which called for parents to be allowed to see details of any convicted paedophiles living in their area.
It was named after eight-year-old Sarah Payne who was murdered in 2000 by Roy Whiting.It was named after eight-year-old Sarah Payne who was murdered in 2000 by Roy Whiting.
The police and probation service with all the best will in the world can't watch every sex offender that there is on the register Sarah PayneThe police and probation service with all the best will in the world can't watch every sex offender that there is on the register Sarah Payne
Sarah's mother, Sara Payne, told BBC News 24 the pilots were a step in the right direction, but there was still a long way to go towards full public disclosure. Sara Payne - Sarah's mother - told BBC News 24 the pilot schemes were a step in the right direction, but there was still a long way to go towards full public disclosure.
"Roy Whiting was previously convicted and I truly believe that if a man like Roy Whiting lives in your community, then you should know that he is there," she said."Roy Whiting was previously convicted and I truly believe that if a man like Roy Whiting lives in your community, then you should know that he is there," she said.
"The police and probation service, with all the best will in the world, can't watch every sex offender that there is on the register and watch what relationships they are building, what new areas they are moving into."The police and probation service, with all the best will in the world, can't watch every sex offender that there is on the register and watch what relationships they are building, what new areas they are moving into.
"So this is a way of parents taking some of that back.""So this is a way of parents taking some of that back."
Stringent safeguardsStringent safeguards
Communities and local government secretary, Hazel Blears, told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: "As a politician I have always believed if you share information with people then they are likely to take a more mature, more rational approach."Communities and local government secretary, Hazel Blears, told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: "As a politician I have always believed if you share information with people then they are likely to take a more mature, more rational approach."
Paul Cavadino, chief executive of crime reduction charity Nacro said it supported a controlled experiment of providing information to parents, but stringent safeguards were needed to prevent abuse of the system.Paul Cavadino, chief executive of crime reduction charity Nacro said it supported a controlled experiment of providing information to parents, but stringent safeguards were needed to prevent abuse of the system.
He believed ministers were right to resist pressure for a full system of public disclosure, warning it would cause offenders to "go to ground", making it difficult for the police and probation service to keep track of them.He believed ministers were right to resist pressure for a full system of public disclosure, warning it would cause offenders to "go to ground", making it difficult for the police and probation service to keep track of them.
In the US, Megan's Law was named after seven-year-old Megan Kanka who was killed by convicted sex offender Jesse Timmendequas in New Jersey in 1994.In the US, Megan's Law was named after seven-year-old Megan Kanka who was killed by convicted sex offender Jesse Timmendequas in New Jersey in 1994.
The legislation was adopted in various forms across 50 states. It allows public access to information on the history and whereabouts of high-risk offenders, which supporters say has been a valuable deterrent.The legislation was adopted in various forms across 50 states. It allows public access to information on the history and whereabouts of high-risk offenders, which supporters say has been a valuable deterrent.
But opponents argue the American law encourages acts of vigilantism and drives paedophiles underground, putting children at greater risk.But opponents argue the American law encourages acts of vigilantism and drives paedophiles underground, putting children at greater risk.
Past studies have also shown far fewer paedophiles comply with registration requirements in the US than in the UK.Past studies have also shown far fewer paedophiles comply with registration requirements in the US than in the UK.