Surrey Local News

03/03/10 Protecting Children - Child sex offender disclosure scheme

A pioneering scheme that will improve protection for children by giving members of the public a formal mechanism to make enquires about people who are in contact with children was announced today by Home Secretary Alan Johnson.
The Child Sex Offender Disclosure scheme has already had success after more than 60 children were protected from potential abuse during a 12 month pilot.

The scheme will now roll out to 18 new police force areas from August giving added reassurance to parents worried about those in contact with their children. The four existing pilot areas will also continue with the scheme and it will roll out to all forces by the end of March 2011.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: "I am determined to do all I can to protect children and families from sex offenders. The UK already has one of the most robust systems in the world for the management of sex offenders, the new scheme will build on this ensuring more children are kept safe.

"We've already seen that children are better protected and sex offenders more effectively managed because of this scheme, which is why it is rolling out nationwide."

The new national scheme builds on the UK's existing system for actively managing sex offenders - one of the most robust in the world. This includes:

the success of the Child Exploitation and On-Line Protection centre (CEOP) which has disrupted 205 high risk sex offender networks, arrested 821 suspected offenders and safeguarded 515 children;
the Criminal Records Bureau which has stopped around 130,000 inappropriate people working with children and vulnerable adults; and
Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) which bring together probation, police and prisons to ensure serious sex offenders have rigorous risk assessments, strict conditions and are subject to a management plan that is kept under constant review.

The four pilot police forces saw:

a total of 585 enquiries and 315 applications primarily from parents, carers and guardians;
21 disclosures were made about registered child sex offenders;
11 general disclosures were made, for example in cases relating to protection issues linked to violent offending; and
43 additional cases led to a range of other child safeguarding actions such as referrals to children's social care.

As part of the new scheme the government will be working with CEOP to pilot a new online reporting process in addition to the other methods by which members of the public can register their concerns.

Sara Payne, Victims' Champion said: "I am delighted that the years of campaigning and hard work by so many friends and colleagues have provided those who care for children with the right to check that adults who have access to them do not pose a danger.

"The evaluation has shown the huge benefits of increased but controlled access to information. The input of the police, children's charities and academics to the pilots has ensured consensus has been reached and we are working together to keep children safe."

Under the terms of the scheme a parent, carer or guardian or another interested party, can request that an individual who has access to their child or children is checked to see whether they have a record of committing child sexual offences.

If this individual is found to have convictions for sexual offences against children, and poses a risk of causing serious harm to the child or children concerned, then this information may be disclosed by MAPPA to the person best placed to protect the child - usually the parent, carer or guardian.

Paul West, Chief Constable of West Mercia Police and Association of Chief Police Officers lead on Managing Sexual and Violent Offenders said: "These new arrangements are a major development in safeguarding children. They empower members of the public to initiate action aimed at protecting children and will help to increase public confidence in the police and other responsible authorities as part of their role in monitoring sex offenders.
"In addition to enabling parents, carers or guardians to take active steps to protect their children, some of the cases that have arisen during the pilots have included extended family members and neighbours raising concerns. Their interventions have undoubtedly resulted in children being protected from potential abuse."

Donald Findlater, Director of Research and Development at The Lucy Faithfull Foundation said: "I am pleased at the clear evidence that members of the public, where they do have concerns about possible abuse, feel confident to approach the police not only for information but also to share their concerns. Those who did receive disclosure information were not only assisted to protect their children but also have evidently handled that information responsibly.

"I am delighted that public education programmes will be made available alongside the disclosure process. It is important that scrutiny continues as the work is rolled out nationally, to ensure the good practice developed in the pilot areas becomes the practice across the country. Our children deserve that we make this work a continuing success."

CEOP's role in protecting vulnerable children will be further expanded when it takes over as lead agency for missing children.

Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of CEOP said: "Each year CEOP receives thousands of reports from parents and young people concerned about someone's behaviour towards a child.

"Piloting an online system for the national roll out of the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme is a natural extension of this and will enable anyone with child protection concerns to make an application for disclosure online, complimenting a range of other specialist services.

"As part of the police service, CEOP works with forces across the UK to protect children every day and the national scheme will further enhance and support this work."

The government has already further strengthened powers to protect children being exploited for sex. Tough new closure orders targeting premises including those associated with child prostitution or child pornography come into effect on 1 April. This year we intend to consult with police forces on how they can provide the Home Office with data on a statutory basis on the age of victims of crime to give the criminal justice system a clearer picture of how children are affected by crimes.

In addition ACPO is preparing a child protection delivery plan which builds on the progress already made in providing specialist training for police investigations concerning child abuse and safeguarding children. The production of the delivery plan responds directly to the commitment given by the government in its response to Lord Laming's review of child protection arrangements.

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