Sarah’s Law ‘important step in child protection’

BRITISH Home Secretary Theresa May hailed an “important step forward for child protection” as Sarah’s Law, which allows parents to check if someone has a history of child sex offences, was rolled out nationally.

Ms May said the programme, which followed the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting 10 years ago, will also help police manage known sex offenders more effectively.

The Home Office scheme gives a parent or guardian the right to check with police if anyone with regular unsupervised access to their children has a criminal conviction for child sex offences.