Sex offender scheme rolled out

Mar 4 2010 Buckinghamshire Examiner

THAMES Valley Police are joining a pioneering child protection scheme, after a 12-month pilot proved a success in other parts of the country.

Detective Inspector Nick Deacon, who is leading the introduction of The Child Sex Offenders Disclosure Scheme in the Thames Valley, said: "This scheme gives members of the public the ability to check out concerns they have about protecting children and will help increase public confidence in the police and other responsible authorities as part of their role in monitoring sex offenders."

A parent, carer or guardian, or another relevant party, can request an individual, who has access to children, is checked to see whether they have a record of child sexual offences. If this individual is found to have convictions for sexual offences against children, and poses a risk of causing serious harm to any child, then this information may be disclosed to the person best placed to protect the child, usually the parent, carer or guardian.