Nursery World - Opinion: In my view - Equipped for protection

The Government has launched a pilot programme in some parts of England that gives parents and carers the right to request information from the police about individuals they are concerned about who have access to their children.

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.

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