News

Child Sex Offender Disclosure Pilot Extended

18th Sep, 2009 to 18th Dec, 2009

Child Sexual Offender Review Disclosure Pilot

Police and partners are extending a 12 month pilot scheme in Warwickshire aimed at providing increased protection for children from child sexual offenders.

"The scheme was due to end on 15 September 2009 but has now been extended indefinitely because we are all delighted with the initial results" said Supt Debbie Tedds.

The final results will not be known until December 2009, when the final evaluation report is published by the Home Office. A decision will then be taken by the Government on whether to roll the scheme out nationally.

"The pilot sets out a clear process for people, even those not related to a child, to raise a concern about an individual who has significant access to a child or children."

"We are encouraging everyone, including the public, to play a role in keeping children safe in Warwickshire."

Although anyone can raise a concern, where it is considered necessary and appropriate to release information about an individual, such information will only be made to the child's parent, carer or guardian directly.

This ensures that information is given to the person best placed to use it to protect the child from harm. Anyone given personal information is required to give an undertaking that they will not share it with anyone else without permission

Warwickshire Police has a dedicated public helpline for the scheme - 01926 415899 and email address keepingchildrensafe@warwickshire.police.uk Applicants can call the dedicated telephone line, send an email or attend their local police station front desk where details of their enquiry will be taken.

Warwickshire is the only area where the scheme was piloted across the whole county from the beginning.

From Monday 16 March, the three other police forces currently participating in the pilot, Cleveland, Cambridgeshire and Hampshire, extended the scheme so that it covered the whole of their force areas too, including the Isle of Wight.

Supt Debbie Tedds said "For the first time the public is making the decision as to whether to ask for the information instead of the agencies making the decision to disclose."

The pilot scheme builds on existing processes to proactively manage Registered Sexual Offenders under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).

Supt Debbie Tedds said "It is also important to remember that we have already disclosed information to parents, carers and guardians of children who were at risk in Warwickshire. This pilot simply makes such procedures more visible and more accessible and we welcome the trial.

Warwickshire Police will work closely with the Local Safeguarding Children Board, Children's Services at Warwickshire County Council, the Probation Service and MAPPA, as well as local and national child protection charities.

This media release was issued on behalf of: Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire Police Authority, Warwickshire County Council, Warwickshire Probation Service and Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).

More information is available at www.warwickshire.police.uk/keepingchildrensafe

Questions and Answers About Child Sex Offender Disclosure Roll Out

Further information about recognising the signs of child sexual abuse is available by calling the Stop it Now! Helpline on 0808 1000 900.