The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme

Did you know...what is happening about Sarah’s Law (disclosure of whereabouts of sexual offenders)? As part of a Review of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenders, the Government will increase the amount of information about particular child sex offenders that is shared with the public.

The Government are not introducing a US-style Megan’s Law or automatic disclosure of child sex offender details to the general public, which would encourage offenders to go missing and therefore put children at greater risk. Instead a scheme is being piloted whereby parents or legal guardians of children will be able to register a child-protection interest in a named individual who has regular unsupervised access to the child.  There will be a presumption that sexual offence convictions will be disclosed to them, where the offender is considered a risk.

Threats to a child’s safety are more likely to originate from a family member or a friend of a family than a complete stranger. Around 75 per cent of child sex offenders are related to or known to their victim. The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme has been developed to respond to this.
The scheme allows members of the public – parents, carers, guardians or interested third parties – to ask the police to tell them about a person’s record of child sex offences if they are concerned about that person’s access to a child.

The Police already disclose information about registered sex offenders and violent offenders in a controlled way to a variety of people, including head teachers, leisure centre managers, employers, landlords and parents. The disclosure scheme is an additional tool that the police can use to keep children safe.

When will information be disclosed?
Disclosure will only happen if the Police believe there is a need to protect a child and that it is necessary and proportionate. Information will only be disclosed to the person best-placed to protect the child and anyone receiving this information must keep it confidential and use it only to protect the child concerned.

Anyone who breaches the confidence of the UK scheme may have action taken against them by the Police.

How can a member of the public ask for information?
You can submit a disclosure request to the Police by letter, phone, at a Police Station or by speaking directly to any Police Officer. Your request will be managed by the force’s Public Protection Unit, who will contact you once your request has been recorded on the force’s database.

You can contact Gwent Police in the following way, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year:

Gwent Police
Gwent Police
Police Headquarters
Croesyceiliog
Cwmbran NP44 2XJ
Emergency: 999
Non-Emergency Number: 101
Main switchboard: 01633 838111
www.gwent.police.uk 

We will require information about you, the child you believe may be at risk and the person you are concerned about. If you think a child is in immediate danger call 999 at any time. Your concern will be dealt with under existing child protection arrangements.

For further information the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, please view the documents below:

Information Leaflet
Keeping Children Safe Leaflet
Keeping Children Safe Poster
Disclosure Leaflet