Sarah´s Law becomes active throughout more of England today!
8th August 2010
"My fight goes on"
Sara Payne
By Sara Payne, former victims champion
TODAY marks a significant milestone in our campaign for Sarah's Law, bringing us closer to the reality that children are safer now from predatory paedophiles than they were yesterday.
It's taken a long time to get to this point, but it proves a co-ordinated effort on everyone's part has finally paid off.
Sarah would be so proud. I'm only sorry it took her death for this vital reform to become a reality. Despite this positive step, I still believe there's a need for fuller disclosure.
Parents should be entitled to walk into a police station and ask, "Are there any high-risk child molesters in this neighbourhood I should be made aware of?"
Our kids are entitled to that protection, and until that happens our battle goes on.
Sara Payne, Fiona Crook and Shy Keenan have launched The Phoenix Foundation to help victims of paedophile crimes.
Show your support by visiting : www.tpcauk.com or www.facebook.com/TPCAUK
Sara Payne
By Sara Payne, former victims champion
TODAY marks a significant milestone in our campaign for Sarah's Law, bringing us closer to the reality that children are safer now from predatory paedophiles than they were yesterday.
It's taken a long time to get to this point, but it proves a co-ordinated effort on everyone's part has finally paid off.
Sarah would be so proud. I'm only sorry it took her death for this vital reform to become a reality. Despite this positive step, I still believe there's a need for fuller disclosure.
Parents should be entitled to walk into a police station and ask, "Are there any high-risk child molesters in this neighbourhood I should be made aware of?"
Our kids are entitled to that protection, and until that happens our battle goes on.
Sara Payne, Fiona Crook and Shy Keenan have launched The Phoenix Foundation to help victims of paedophile crimes.
Show your support by visiting : www.tpcauk.com or www.facebook.com/TPCAUK
VICTORY: How the new law will spread
In focusing on the right to ask about specific individuals, it falls short of our demand to give parents the right to know of ANY predatory paedophiles in their area.
Sarah's Law: Your rights
PARENTS, carers and guardians will have a right to be told about anyone with regular unsupervised access to their children who poses a risk.
PARENTS suspicious about friends, relatives or neighbours will be legally entitled to know if they have paedophile backgrounds.
FOR first time, police have a duty to respond and share information where appropriate.
It's already saving kids
Trials of Sarah's Law have been highly successful in helping to protect kids. Here are some cases:
CASE 1
A WORRIED mum applied for info about an over-friendly neighbour offering her children sweets. Checks showed he was a child sex offender banned from contacting under-18s. He was arrested and locked up.
CASE 2
A SEX offender assessed as "medium risk" raised suspicions among carers looking after him. They invoked Sarah's Law after seeing him with kids.
They were given info which enabled them to protect the children, reassure neighbours and manage the risk - while still allowing the man to stay in his flat.
CASE 3
A GRANDAD had concerns about his daughter's new partner after deciding he was acting "strangely" around his grandchild.
Checks showed the man was not a sex offender but did have a history of violence and use of weapons. Social workers were told and acted to protect the child.
CASE 4
A MAN was worried about rumours that one family member was a paedophile. Police checks showed he WAS a convicted pervert who'd failed to go on the sex offenders' register.
Social workers were alerted to ensure that the child was protected and the whole family was warned of his past.
From today, the scheme operating in four trial areas will be extended to another eight, with a further 12 following suit by the autumn. Mrs May has set a deadline of next March for all 43 police forces to adopt Sarah's Law.
It means every mum, dad, carer and guardian in the land will soon have the right to demand police checks on anyone with unsupervised access to their youngsters.
Do not be afraid to ask!
PARENTS suspicious about friends, relatives or neighbours will be legally entitled to know if they have paedophile backgrounds.
FOR first time, police have a duty to respond and share information where appropriate.
It's already saving kids
Trials of Sarah's Law have been highly successful in helping to protect kids. Here are some cases:
CASE 1
A WORRIED mum applied for info about an over-friendly neighbour offering her children sweets. Checks showed he was a child sex offender banned from contacting under-18s. He was arrested and locked up.
CASE 2
A SEX offender assessed as "medium risk" raised suspicions among carers looking after him. They invoked Sarah's Law after seeing him with kids.
They were given info which enabled them to protect the children, reassure neighbours and manage the risk - while still allowing the man to stay in his flat.
CASE 3
A GRANDAD had concerns about his daughter's new partner after deciding he was acting "strangely" around his grandchild.
Checks showed the man was not a sex offender but did have a history of violence and use of weapons. Social workers were told and acted to protect the child.
CASE 4
A MAN was worried about rumours that one family member was a paedophile. Police checks showed he WAS a convicted pervert who'd failed to go on the sex offenders' register.
Social workers were alerted to ensure that the child was protected and the whole family was warned of his past.
From today, the scheme operating in four trial areas will be extended to another eight, with a further 12 following suit by the autumn. Mrs May has set a deadline of next March for all 43 police forces to adopt Sarah's Law.
It means every mum, dad, carer and guardian in the land will soon have the right to demand police checks on anyone with unsupervised access to their youngsters.
Do not be afraid to ask!