Sex offenders in Warwickshire

6.00.38pm GMT Wed 17th Feb 2010

Nigel Rock at Warwickshire Police HQ

Nigel Rock has received a briefing from Warwickshire Police in response to his enquiry about disclosures relating to sex offenders living in the County. Nigel is the Parliamentary Candidate for the new constituency of Kenilworth and Southam and takes a strong interest in policing.

Nigel wanted to hear first hand about the results of the experiment that has been run in four counties of England. The so called "Sara's Law" (known as the Keeping Children Safe scheme) is based upon (but different to) the systems operated in some parts of the US where the public can find out if sex offenders are living nearby.

The pilots were run in Hampshire, Cleveland and Cambridgeshire as well as Warwickshire. The scheme is intend to inform Parents, Carers and Guardians of potential threats from persons to their children , particularly those on the sex offenders register. Warwickshire was one of the Police Forces that volunteered to participate in the pilot scheme, which works differently to the uncontrolled release of information that has been operated in other countries. There were several concerns about uncontrolled disclosure, not least that sex offenders would go "underground" and defeat the object of the initiative.

Nigel has learnt that there has been a steady of enquiries from the public in Warwickshire - about 140 during 12 months. (Sept 08 - Sept 09) A grant of £150k was received by Warwickshire Police to operate the trail which funded an team of up to 4 staff. Det Chief Insp Nigel Jones who is the Senior Officer responsible for the pilot in Warwickshire said "It is important that a scheme like this is properly resourced. This enabled us to engage with the public and achieve a number of learning points."

Nigel Rock said "This seems a responsibly run pilot that has resulted in communication that is a 'two way street' - the Police have found out about potential threats without the chaotic repercussions that an unregulated disclosure might have. There is no point driving offenders into a twilight world so no-one knows where they are. "

Chris Huhne M.P. with Nigel Rock

Chris Huhne MP is the Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesman and represents a Hampshire constituency - another of the trial areas. Chris said "Nigel Rock and I have exchanged information about the findings. The pilots seem fine, subject to further information about the number of those on the offenders register who are still in contact and not having not gone underground."

Chris said "Everyone should note that this is not the same as the US version of Sarah's law, which is to ask for publication of all local names on the sex offenders' register. That has been tried in the US, and the number on register who stay in contact falls from 97% here, to 80% in the US."

Nigel Rock also said "I am pleased that Warwickshire Police volunteered to participate in the trial. Effective protection of children must be a priority and careful study of the best way to achieve that is time and money well spent."