The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme is two years old

A scheme that helps keep children safe by allowing parents or carers to ask police whether people with access to their family are sex offenders has been active for two years after launching in the force area on the 1st April 2011.

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme provides members of the public with a way to check whether people who have contact with their children are a possible risk – and if it can help keep children safe, the police will pass on information to the person best placed to safeguard that child.

How it works?

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme gives members of the public a formal mechanism to make enquiries about individuals who are in contact with children.

Anyone, not just a parent, grandparent or guardian can request a check is made if someone has access to a child. If police checks flag up a record of offences that might put a child at risk, the police will consider sharing this information with the person best placed to protect the child (usually the parent or main carer).

A request can be made by contacting police in the usual ways e.g. by visiting a police station, telephoning police or, where available, dialling the 101, single non-emergency number.

DI Neil Jenkins said.

“Protecting children from harm is a responsibility for everybody in our community.”

“The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme provides a formal mechanism for parents, carers, guardians and other interested parties to request information about an individual who has contact with their child or a child close to them if they are concerned about that individual’s behaviour. I would encourage anyone who is concerned to use the scheme and request that a check is made.”

It should be stressed however, that the scheme does not replace current arrangements between the Police and Children’s Service in dealing with allegations of Sexual Abuse and I would advise any person who has immediate concerns about a child’s welfare to contact the Police immediately”.

BACKGROUND TO THE SCHEME

England and Wales operate Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements to manage sexual and violent offenders and disclosure can be a tool in that management process.

The police already disclose information about registered sexual offenders and violent offenders in a controlled way and to a variety of relevant people including head teachers, leisure centre managers, employers and landlords, as well as parents.

The difference in the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme is that there is now a more formal mechanism for a person to make an application for information about a particular individual who has contact with a child or children. This can alert the authorities to problems and to contact an offender who may be having contact with a child, that they may not have been aware of.

All individuals receiving a disclosure about an individual through this scheme will be warned that the information must remain confidential and that it should only be used to protect the child or children concerned from the risk of harm.