Parents will be given the power to ask police about the criminal history of neighbours, family members and anyone else in regular contact with their children, under a controversial scheme which comes into force on Sunday.
An 18-month trial of Sarah’s Law will be extended to West Mercia Police and 17 other police force areas, and will allow parents in north Shropshire to check whether people with access to, or who live close to their children are sex offenders.
It will be followed by the remaining 21 forces across England and Wales by March 2011.
Under the Home Office scheme officers will reveal details confidentially if they think it is in the child’s interests.
Police may also warn parents if concerns are raised by grandparents or neighbours. Ministers said the pilot has already protected 60 children.
West Mercia’s Chief Constable Paul West has been heading up the project on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers for the last two years.
He previously said every registered sex offender in the area had been warned about the scheme and given assurances that it would not lead to them being publicly outed.
Sarah’s Law was passed in the wake of the killing of eight-year-old Sarah Payne in July 2000 by convicted paedophile Roy Whiting.
A police spokesperson previously told the Chronicle that enquiries can be made about a person as long as their name is known.
He said: “Enquiries can be made about your neighbour who has a lot of contact with your children and you’re unsure about them, or a woman in a new relationship who wants to check about their new partner.
“There have been lots of cases of dads asking for checks on ex-partners’ new partners.”
People can apply for information from West Mercia Police by calling 0300 333 3000, dropping into the local police station or emailing the force via the website www.westmercia.police.uk
by Charlotte Hester