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, rolls-out across Wales today (Friday, April 1st 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.
The scheme, sometimes referred to as ‘Sarah’s Law,’ was launched by The Home Office in several police forces across England in August 2010, after a successful pilot period.
The scheme comes into operation in all four Welsh Forces today (Friday, April 1st.)
How will it work?
- 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.
As the scheme goes live across Wales today Assistant Chief Constable of Gwent Police, and ACPO lead for Vulnerable Persons, Mr Jeff Farrar said: “One of the police service’s most fundamental roles is to do whatever we can to protect people from harm. The introduction of the Child Sex Offender disclosure scheme represents a major development in our ability to safeguard children.
“As well as empowering parents, carers or immediate guardians to take active steps to protect their children, some of the cases experienced in the force areas that have operated this scheme have involved concerns raised by extended family members and neighbours. This means we can all help protect children and their actions have undoubtedly led to children being protected from potential harm.
“The scheme is being rolled out across the four Welsh Forces simultaneously and this will be a great advantage to people who wish to use it as it means wherever you live in Wales you will get the same service and the same opportunity to make enquiries about individuals.
“But it is important to stress that this is just another way to help communities safeguard children; the scheme does not replace the usual checks that are carried out on individuals who work with or apply to work with children.
“We continue to stress that, in circumstances where anyone believes there is an immediate risk to a child’s safety, they should always dial 999 so officers can respond right away.”
Temporary Detective Superintendent Wayne Jones from North Wales Police’s Public Protection Unit said: “This scheme will further enhance and support the child safeguarding and public protection procedures that are currently in place.
“This scheme also builds on existing processes to proactively manage offenders by our Public Protection Units under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). Although disclosure can take place when children are deemed to be at risk, the scheme enables parents, guardians and third parties to apply directly for information themselves.
He added: “As a Force we work extremely hard to safeguard children within our communities. If anyone has a concern about an individual then please come forward and talk to us.”
