'Sarah's law' goes nationwide

Parents across the UK will be allowed to ask police if people they know are sex offenders.

By March 2011, The Child Sex Offender Disclousure scheme will be rolled out across the UK.  Parents will be able to get information on anybody who has contact with their children.

It comes after the success for the scheme in four trial areas, in Warwickshire, Southampton, Stockton in Teeside and parts of Cambridgeshire.

The year-long trials saw more than 60 children protected from potential abuse. Just over 300 applications were made by parents, and of these, 21 resulted in disclosures about registered child sex offenders.

From August, parents in 18 additional areas will be able to make requests. All police forces will have the scheme by March 2011.

Sarah's law

The scheme has become known as 'Sarah's Law' after Sarah Payne, who was abducted and murdered by a convicted child sex offender in July 2000.

Her mother Sara Payne has campaigned for every parent's right to know paedophiles living in their area. "I am delighted that the years of campaigning and hard work by so many friends and colleagues have provided those who care for children with the right to check that adults who have access to them do not pose a danger," she said.

"The evaluation has shown the huge benefits of increased but controlled access to information. The input of the police, children's charities and academics to the pilots has ensured consensus has been reached and we are working together to keep children safe."

Nationwide

Home Secretary Alan Johnson says he's determined to protect children and families from sex offenders.

"The UK already has one of the most robust systems in the world for the management of sex offenders, the new scheme will build on this ensuring more children are kept safe.

"We've already seen that children are better protected and sex offenders more effectively managed because of this scheme, which is why it is rolling out nationwide."

Revenge

Research carried out by Leicester de Montfort University shows that during the trials, the second largest proportion of the requests came from fathers about the new partners of an ex-wife or girlfriend.

The study also gave an example of a case in which a parent applied for information about a neighbour who had offered sweets to their children.

Checks showed he was a sex offender with a court order banning him from conbtact with anyone under the age of 18. He was arrested and remanded in custody.