Parents to be allowed checks for sex crimes

Published on Saturday 16 February 2008 22:58

SINGLE mothers will be able to ask police to check whether potential boyfriends have child sex convictions under radical plans being proposed in England.

Under the scheme, all parents will be able to ask police whether people given unsupervised access to their children have a paedophile offence against their names.

The move marks a step towards a 'Sarah's law', named after the schoolgirl Sarah Payne, who was murdered by a registered sex offender who had disappeared into the community.

Following her death, Sarah's parents demanded that the location of paedophiles should be handed out to local people so they could take precautions. But ministers have long feared such a move would lead to vigilante attacks.

Officials in Scotland last night said they would monitor the proposals, but said it was not yet being planned north of the border.

The scheme will initially be trialled in four police areas and, if successful, could be rolled out across England and Wales.

Family members or neighbours who regularly look after children could also be checked. If children are thought to be at risk, parents and carers will be told.

Announcing the scheme, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "This summer, four police forces will start schemes that allow a child's parents or guardians to be informed if someone they are having a personal relationship with has previous convictions for child sex offences."

Sarah's mother Sara Payne said: "These new trials are a major step forward, helping us to protect our children."