Paedophile check trials launched

[Chezzie]

Parents will get new powers to check if people given unsupervised access to their children have paedophile convictions, the government has said.

The scheme, which was announced by the government last summer, will be trialled in Cambridgeshire, Hampshire, Cleveland and Warwickshire.

The scheme will allow single mothers to ask police whether potential boyfriends have child sex convictions.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says the information will be tightly controlled.

'Carefully controlled'

If successful in the four pilot police areas, the scheme could eventually be rolled out across England and Wales.

Family members or neighbours who regularly look after children could also be checked under the new proposals.

Police and probation services will be able to decide what information to release and there will be careful controls on disclosure, but if children are thought to be at risk it is understood their guardians will be told.

Writing in Sunday's News of the World, Ms Smith said: "The system we're working on will ensure that parents and carers will be informed of anyone's offending history where a child is at risk.

There are few crimes more evil and shocking than sex offences against children

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith

"The police and probation services will have the discretion to consider each case on its own merits and disclosure will be carefully controlled in all cases."

Ms Smith added: "There are few crimes more evil and shocking than sex offences against children.

"It provokes strong emotions and strong views - and rightly so.

"Britain is one of the leading countries for managing registered sex offenders, and we've done a lot in recent years to improve public protection. But I am clear that we can do more."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7249043.stm