Sarah’s Law gives parents the right to know if a person close to their child is a sex offender - including paedophiles, rapists or predators. The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme in England and Wales allows police forces to disclose whether a person is on the sex offenders register.
Since 1997, anyone cautioned or convicted for a sexual offence is put on the sex offenders register. This includes anyone who commits a sexual offence on the internet.
Now, any person in a position to protect a child can apply to the police for information if they are worried about a particular individual’s contact or behaviour with a child. Here’s everything you need to know about how the scheme works.
Read more: High Heaton van driver who ran red light found not guilty of causing death of pensioner
What is Sarah’s Law?
Sarah’s Law is the informal name for The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme. Launched in 2010, the scheme allows you formally ask the police whether someone who has contact with a child or children has a record for child sexual (paedophile) offences or poses a risk to the child or children for some other reason.
Despite its nickname, Sarah’s Law is not actually a law, but rather a policy. It gives guidance on how people can ask the police to use its existing powers to share information.
Who is Sarah’s Law named after?
Sarah’s Law was named after eight-year-old Sarah Payne, who was murdered in 2000. It was later revealed that Roy Whiting, who was convicted of Sarah’s murder and sentenced to a whole life term, was on the sex offenders register and had previously served time in prison after pleading guilty to the abduction and indecent assault of an eight-year-old girl.
Who can make a request for information under Sarah’s Law?
According to the Met Police, “anyone who is worried about someone's behaviour towards a child can apply, not just a child's parents. This includes people like a grandparent, neighbour or friend”.
If the police force decides that there is information that is important to disclose, they may also choose to disclose that information to whoever can use it to keep children safe.
Can a request say if a paedophile or predator lives in my area?
Sarah’s Law does not reveal general information about people on the register in your area. Requests for information must be made about a specific person and a specific child or children they spend time with.
If you’re worried about someone’s behaviour towards a child, or something you've seen, heard or been told, you can use Sarah's Law to find out if that person is a risk.
You cannot use Sarah’s Law to access a list of people on the sex offenders register.
How to make a request under Sarah’s Law
The form to request information differs by the police force. If you live under the jurisdiction of Northumbria Police, the force provides a form on its website to fill in, while Durham Police request that anyone concerned should contact the non-emergency phone line at 101 or visit their local police station in person.
What happens after a request is made?
Northumbria Police says “Any information received is strictly confidential and legal action may be taken if it is disclosed to anyone else. If there is an immediate or imminent risk of harm to the child this will be dealt with urgently. If there is no immediate risk, the whole process will be complete within 45 days, unless it is extended due to exceptional circumstances.”
It also says that while anyone may request information, the results may not always be shared with the person who made the application. “Only those with responsibility for the child or children concerned will be given the information as they are in a position to help safeguard them,” it says.
Who is added to the sex offenders register?
While the term sex offender can mean paedophile or rapist, it doesn't always mean everyone on the register has been convicted of those crimes. A wide variety of people are placed on the sex offenders register every year, after receiving a caution or being convicted of an offence.
This could be, for example, a man who received a caution for having smacked a girl on the buttocks while she was passing him on the street, a 22-year-old female teacher who had sexual intercourse with her 15-year-old student, or at the very serious end of the scale, someone like Roy Whiting, who killed Sarah Payne.
Similarly, sex offenders are on the sex offenders' register for differing lengths of time, depending on the type of offence:
A jail term of 30 months to life = remain on the register indefinitely
A jail term of six to 30 months = registration for 10 years
A sentence of less than six months = on the register for seven years
A community order sentence = on the register for five years
A caution issued = on the register for two years
With the exception of prison sentences of 30 months or more, minors (offenders under the age of 18) will have their registration period halved.
Does Sarah’s Law help?
In 2012, the Home Office confirmed that, following the nationwide rollout of Sarah’s Law, hundreds of formal requests had been made in its first year. At least 160 disclosures relating to child sex offences had been made, together with at least 58 made concerning other offences.
The then-Home Secretary, Theresa May, said at the time: “Thanks to Sarah’s Law, we know that more than 200 children have been protected from potential harm over the last year. We are doing everything we can to protect the public, and especially children, from predatory sex offenders by tightening the law and closing loopholes.”
Read next:
Bensham salesman started 'grooming' 13-year-old who answered door to him
Gateshead murderer 'Billy the Bump' who went on to rape girl jailed for 27 years
County Durham teenager held screwdriver up to man's throat during terrifying robbery
More than 300 children recorded as homeless in the North East according to Shelter
