This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8477310.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Offender alerts may be expanded | Offender alerts may be expanded |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Parents across England and Wales could be told about sex offenders who may come into contact with their children. | Parents across England and Wales could be told about sex offenders who may come into contact with their children. |
| The government is considering rolling out the scheme, currently being trialled in Hampshire, Warwickshire, north Cambridgeshire and Cleveland. | The government is considering rolling out the scheme, currently being trialled in Hampshire, Warwickshire, north Cambridgeshire and Cleveland. |
| Home Secretary Alan Johnson said early results were "extremely encouraging" and the project had protected children. | Home Secretary Alan Johnson said early results were "extremely encouraging" and the project had protected children. |
| "Sarah's Law" was proposed after the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne by a convicted sex offender 10 years ago. | "Sarah's Law" was proposed after the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne by a convicted sex offender 10 years ago. |
| Sarah was kidnapped and murdered by Roy Whiting in West Sussex in 2000. | Sarah was kidnapped and murdered by Roy Whiting in West Sussex in 2000. |
| 'Encouraging results' | 'Encouraging results' |
| Her mother, Sara, a child protection campaigner, told the News of the World: "In all the long years of campaigning for parents' rights to keep their children safe from predatory paedophiles, this is the most important development to date." | Her mother, Sara, a child protection campaigner, told the News of the World: "In all the long years of campaigning for parents' rights to keep their children safe from predatory paedophiles, this is the most important development to date." |
| Under the measures, families will be able to ask police if someone with access to a child has convictions or has been previously suspected of abuse. | Under the measures, families will be able to ask police if someone with access to a child has convictions or has been previously suspected of abuse. |
| The development of this scheme is a major step forward in our ability to protect children from sex offenders Alan Johnson Home Secretary | The development of this scheme is a major step forward in our ability to protect children from sex offenders Alan Johnson Home Secretary |
| In the first six months of the trial - which started in September 2008 in Southampton, Stockton, north Cambridgeshire and Warwickshire - more than 150 parents made inquiries. Of those, 10 were given relevant information. | |
| The home secretary said: "Protecting children and families from sex offenders is one of my top priorities and the UK already has one of the most robust systems of managing sex offenders in the world. | The home secretary said: "Protecting children and families from sex offenders is one of my top priorities and the UK already has one of the most robust systems of managing sex offenders in the world. |
| "The development of this scheme is a major step forward in our ability to protect children from sex offenders. | "The development of this scheme is a major step forward in our ability to protect children from sex offenders. |
| "Early results are extremely encouraging and the pilot has provided crucial protection for children who might otherwise be at risk." | "Early results are extremely encouraging and the pilot has provided crucial protection for children who might otherwise be at risk." |
| He said results from the year-long pilot were still being evaluated and talks with the police and children's charities would take place before a final decision was made extending the scheme nationally. | He said results from the year-long pilot were still being evaluated and talks with the police and children's charities would take place before a final decision was made extending the scheme nationally. |
| American law | American law |
| Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said the Conservatives were sympathetic to what the Home Office was trying to achieve. | Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said the Conservatives were sympathetic to what the Home Office was trying to achieve. |
| He said: "If the pilots have worked properly we would be happy to see the scheme extended." | He said: "If the pilots have worked properly we would be happy to see the scheme extended." |
| But Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne called for more information about the schemes to be made available. | But Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne called for more information about the schemes to be made available. |
| He said: "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: "The concern is that this will do nothing for the safety of children and could even lead to an increase in sex offenders." |
| Michele Elliott, founder of children's charity Kidscape, welcomed the move. | Michele Elliott, founder of children's charity Kidscape, welcomed the move. |
| "We are absolutely delighted, we have been campaigning for this, we think it's good for children and it's about time," she said. | "We are absolutely delighted, we have been campaigning for this, we think it's good for children and it's about time," she said. |
| "It's interesting that they have chosen to do this now with an election around the corner, it's a popular thing, but whatever the motivation of the politicians it's important that parents will now be able to get access to this information." | "It's interesting that they have chosen to do this now with an election around the corner, it's a popular thing, but whatever the motivation of the politicians it's important that parents will now be able to get access to this information." |
| The so-called Megan's Law in the US, which allows the publication of names, addresses and pictures of paedophiles in some states, prompted calls for an equivalent "Sarah's Law" in the UK. | The so-called Megan's Law in the US, which allows the publication of names, addresses and pictures of paedophiles in some states, prompted calls for an equivalent "Sarah's Law" in the UK. |
| Sara Payne, who is the government's Victims Tsar, has been undergoing treatment after complications following brain surgery but is said to have responded well. | Sara Payne, who is the government's Victims Tsar, has been undergoing treatment after complications following brain surgery but is said to have responded well. |
| Could the "Sarah's Law" scheme help protect children? You can send us your views using the form below: | Could the "Sarah's Law" scheme help protect children? You can send us your views using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |