‘Sarah’s Law’ Trialled in Southampton

Were you aware that ‘Sarah’s Law’, the scheme developed to help protect children from sex offenders, is being trialled down the road in Southampton? Trials also took place in Warwickshire, north Cambridgeshire and Stockton-on-Tees, and with early results "extremely encouraging" according to Home Secretary Alan Johnson, the government is considering extending the scheme nationwide.

The scheme was developed in response to the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne by convicted sex offender, Roy Whiting, in West Sussex ten years ago.

It gives families access to information from the police about whether someone in regular unsupervised contact with a child has convictions for or has been suspected of child sex offences.

The scheme differs to America’s ‘Megan’s Law’ – created following the murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka by a repeat sexual offender – in that the latter allows varying degrees of information to be given out depending on the state, but can include the publication of names, addresses and pictures of paedophiles.

‘Sarah’s Law’ pilots began in September 2008 and during the first six months there were more than 150 inquiries, following which ten parents were given relevant information.

The Home Secretary said, "The development of this scheme is a major step forward in our ability to protect children from sex offenders.”

Before a final decision is made on whether ‘Sarah’s Law’ will be extended to the whole of the country the results of the trials will continue to be evaluated and discussions held with the police and children’s charities.

For the Conservatives, Chris Grayling, Shadow Home Secretary, said, with the proviso that the scheme didn’t lead to vigilante-style reactions, “If the pilots have worked, we would be entirely supportive of extending those elsewhere.”

However the Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman and Hedge End’s MP, Chris Huhne, has put in a word of warning: "The concern is that this will do nothing for the safety of children and could even lead to an increase in sex offenders." He said more information on the results of the trials was needed.

Any views on this in Hedge End?