Paedophiles to launch appeals against registering on sex offenders’ list for life

Sex offenders have the right from today to appeal against registering with police for life, despite concerns raised by a 
children’s charity that they must “always be considered a risk”.

Thousands of sexual offenders will be able to apply to have their names removed from the sex offenders’ register after the Supreme Court ruled it was a breach of human rights to be put on the list for life, with no review.

The UK government has already expressed concern about the plans, with Home Secretary Theresa May saying “the minimum possible changes to the law” would be made.

Currently, prisoners have to wait 15 years after being released from jail to be able to apply to be removed from the register. Today marks 15 years since sex offenders were first required to register with police.

NSPCC chief executive Andrew Flanagan said: “This is a concerning day for our justice system. Sadly, we are told this legal ruling cannot be overturned but the NSPCC’s view remains that paedophiles who have been put on the sex offender register for life must remain there as we can never be sure their behaviour will change.

“There is no proven or recognised ‘cure’ for adult sex offenders who abuse children and they must therefore always be considered a risk. We can only try to control and contain their behaviour through a combination of treatment and monitoring by the authorities if they are released back into the community.

“We will raise concerns if we believe the civil liberties of convicted sex offenders are being put before the protection of children.”

Plans outlined by Mrs May last year included offenders having to tell authorities before travelling abroad, even for a day, reporting if they were living with children and tightening rules to stop offenders avoiding registering after changing their name.