Hotline set to identify sex offenders for worried parents

Published on Sunday 13 September 2009 22:09

PARENTS concerned that their children may be in contact with convicted paedophiles and other sex offenders are to be told if their suspicions are correct for the first time in Scotland.

A controversial pilot project, aimed at providing parents with unprecedented access to police information about known sex offenders, is to be officially launched in Tayside today by justice secretary Kenny MacAskill.

Under the breakthrough scheme, parents who are concerned that known paedophiles or other sexual offenders may be preying on their children will be able to telephone a dedicated police-operated hotline. There will be a "presumption" that the officers manning the telephone hotline will inform the parent if a named person has convictions.

The scheme – which will run as a pilot project until next May – has been welcomed by children's charities and anti child sexual abuse campaigners.

Mr MacAskill, who officially launched the project, said: "There are few crimes more emotive or more damaging than sexual offences against children and we want to do everything we can to ensure that convicted sex offenders do not reoffend."

A spokeswoman for Tayside Police said: "

Police will be more readily alerted to concerns, with a presumption that they will inform the parent, carer or guardian if the named person has convictions for sex offences.

"If the child is found to be at serious risk of harm, protection measures will be instigated."

Anne Houston, a spokeswoman for Children 1st, said: "

We see this as potentially offering an important additional protection for children."