It remains to be seen whether disclosing information about convicted sex offenders in this way will protect children more effectively.
There is a danger that the scheme could give parents a false sense of security if nothing is disclosed from police records. They must remain alert when they have concerns, as the majority of those who sexually abuse children are not convicted sex offenders.
When information is disclosed, the parent or carer will be required to keep this confidential. Telling the public that someone in their community is a sex offender increases the risk of vigilante action, which could drive offenders underground, making it harder for the authorities to monitor them and ultimately putting children at risk.
The best protection from convicted offenders is to equip the police and probation service with the resources to effectively monitor and manage the situation and provide services that help change offenders' behaviour. It is also important to remember that controlled disclosure already takes place nationwide when agencies decide this is in children's best interests.
The impact of the disclosure pilots must be carefully examined and evaluated. Whatever the evaluation shows, the NSPCC wants a better resourced offender management system that includes public protection, public education and offender treatment measures. Only then can we cautiously begin to feel that children will be safe from sex offenders.
