One in five requests made to police under Sarah's Law confirmed as child sex offender

By Ben Stupples
Bristol Post
February 18, 2015

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Sarah-s-Law-requests-positive/story-26041452-detail/story.html

One in five requests made to Avon and Somerset police as to whether someone has a record of child sex offences has been given a positive response.

One in five requests made to Avon and Somerset police as to whether someone has a record of child sex offences has been given a positive response.

Police have received 242 requests from parents, carers or guardians under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme – commonly known as Sarah's Law – since it was introduced in 2011, with 47 confirming someone as a child sex offender.

Across the force's jurisdiction, 56 per cent (158) of the total requests have come from Somerset, while 32 per cent (89) have come Bristol and 12 per (33) from North East Somerset.

Sharon Copsey, head of service for the National Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), said calls to the charity's 24-hour helpline have "soared" over the past few years. She cited recent high-profile cases – such as those of Jimmy Saville and Ian Watkins – as the main reason for this change, saying there is now "much higher awareness" about children's safety.

She added: "Sexual offending can be compulsive and any offender with a history of child sex abuse should be considered a risk to children's safety for the rest of their lives. This is why it is so important that offenders released on license are closely tracked and monitored by the police."

Sally Lewis, Independent Chair of Bristol Safeguarding Children Board, described Sarah's Law as "an important resource" and expressed her approval of how the scheme is being used.

"I am pleased that the level of enquiries in Bristol shows responsible and measured approaches to child protection from our communities and confidence in the local police service," she said.

"Every child is entitled to be safe, happy and to achieve their potential. Child protection is everybody's business and every measure that contributes to their safety is welcome."

In December 2013, the Post reported that a total of 167 requests had been made to Avon and Somerset police under the child protection law since 2011 – 56 applications per year.

With the latest figures – obtained by a Freedom of Information (FoI) request – accurate up to December 2014, 75 requests have been made to police under the disclosure scheme over the past year, raising the annual average to 61.

Peter Saunders, CEO of National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) said about the increase in requests: "It's encouraging that legislation passed to protect children, controversial at the time of its introduction, is being used effectively by parents."

Bristol parents, however, were divided when asked about the importance of Sarah's Law for protecting children from sex offenders.

David Gorwill, father to a three-year-old daughter, said Sarah's Law "definitely" helps parents to protect children, saying: "If there's someone who could be a threat to children in the local area, you would want to know.

"If you're moving house, for example, you would want to be sure that the area's safe beforehand."

But Daniel Efergan, father to a baby son, expressed concern about the scheme's potential consequences, saying: "I don't actually think it helps at all. The more information that is publicly available, the more paranoid people become."

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, first piloted by the Home Office in 2008, allows parents, carers, guardians or another interested party to ask the police to check if an individual who has contact with a child has a record for child sexual offences.

The scheme has been named after Sarah Payne, the eight-year-old schoolgirl abducted and murdered 15 years ago by Roy Whiting, a convicted child sex offender. Following the murder Sarah's parents launched a campaign for a change in the low.

Avon and Somerset police say anyone concerned about a child' safety should call 999 straight away. Otherwise, they should dial 101 or visit their local police station.

The NSPCC also says that anyone with concerns about a child can contact the charity's confidential, 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 5000.