Top policeman hails move to Scotland-wide 'Sarah's Law'

Published on Sunday 28 February 2010 21:53

PLANS to roll out a scheme giving concerned parents the right to know if a sex offender has access to their children have been welcomed by one of Scotland's top police officers.

David Strang, Chief Constable of Lothian and Borders, said it was a "welcome move", but he cautioned against publicising the scheme too widely for fear of vigilantism. Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill confirmed yesterday that a pilot scheme in operation in Tayside is to be rolled out nationwide by the end of the year.

It will allow parents to request background checks on anyone with close contact with their children, in a scheme similar to that being introduced in England and Wales under the auspices of "Sarah's Law". It was brought into force down south following a campaign by Sara Payne, whose eight year-old daughter Sarah was killed by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting.

Campaigners in Scotland have called for a similar provision, and in 2005 a 5,000-name petition urged MSPs to introduce a "Mark's law", named after Mark Cummings, who was abducted and murdered by a known sex offender in Glasgow in 2004.

Fife Constabulary and Central Scotland Police have already indicated they are keen to have the scheme operating in their areas by the autumn, and yesterday Mr Strang added his support.

"This is a welcome move," he said. "The protection of children and the management of sex offenders is one of the most emotive and difficult challenges that we face in the police service. How we protect children is about sharing information. We share it with other professionals at the moment and this proposal is to widen that sharing of information to parents who suspect that somebody may be a risk or a threat to their child. I welcome that development."

He added: "I think we just need to be careful that we don't publicise it too widely and then there's a risk of vigilantism, but we'll learn from the pilot in Tayside."

That scheme allows members of the public to call for background checks on people they suspect – with a presumption police will tell them if the person has convictions for sex offences. If a child is found to be at serious risk of harm, then child protection measures are instigated.

Tayside Police said concerned parents were approaching the force to request information as part of the scheme and that feedback had been "very positive".

Mr MacAskill said: "Scotland is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of its approach to the management of sex offenders, and we will continue to strengthen this approach.

"We have made progress in recent years to toughen up safeguards in place – such as strengthening measures to assess, manage and minimise the risks posed by sex offenders – but I am determined to go even further.

"Discussions are taking place with all of Scotland's police forces about how quickly we would be able to have the scheme up and running in their areas. However, I fully expect the roll-out process to begin later this year and for all of Scotland to be covered in a matter of months thereafter – meaning parents in every part of the country will get the extra reassurance the disclosure scheme provides."

The pilot will run until the end of May and a full evaluation will be published in August. The national roll-out will begin soon afterwards, allowing officials to take on board any lessons from Tayside.

'DISCRETION NEEDED ON SENTENCES'

LOTHIAN and Borders chief constable David Strang said he did not back calls for mandatory minimum jail sentences for knife crime.

Earlier this month the Conservatives said anyone caught carrying a knife should face two years behind bars.

They said those who actually use such a weapon should face even longer in prison.

It followed an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill, lodged by Labour, in support of mandatory six-month jail sentences for those caught in possession of knives.

The proposed legislation has been introduced by the Scottish Government and includes plans to bring in a presumption against prison sentences of six months or less.

But Mr Strang said he believed the "discretion" for sentences should remain with sheriffs.

He also said community sentences rather than short-term jail sentences would help to tackle the long-term causes of crime.