Scheme to give parents details on paedophiles

PARENTS in some areas of Britain will be able to ask police if anyone with access to their child is a convicted paedophile.

Details about child sex convictions will be revealed under a Home Office pilot scheme if police think a child may be in danger.

Twelve-month trials, initiated yesterday, are being held in Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Stockton in Cleveland and Warwickshire and could be extended across the country if successful.

The trials are a response to calls for a “Sarah’s Law” that allows more information to be published about where paedophiles live. The campaign followed the brutal murder of Sarah Payne by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting.

Fears were raised such a law could lead to vigilante attacks and drive paedophiles underground. Under the new scheme any Donald Findlater, director of research and development at the Lucy Faithful Foundation and its Stop it Now! Britain and Ireland campaign, raised concerns that publicity could drive sex offenders underground.

He said: “I have serious doubts about the usefulness of disclosure.

“I suspect few will make use of it and doubt they will actually be inquiring about known sex offenders. I also fear publicity around the pilots may drive some offenders underground, where they may be more dangerous.”