North Wales Police has 227 requests for disclosure under the 'Sarah's Law' legislation brought to help people protect against child sex offenders in their midst
More than 200 people have contacted police in North Wales in the last five years suspicious men who had come into their lives may have been paedophiles preying on their children.
There have been 227 requests for information put to North Wales Police since 2011, when the disclosure scheme was launched, came into force.
Under the scheme, anybody including “a third party” such as worried neighbours, can ask police about anyone with access to children.
Officers will reveal details confidentially if it is in the child’s interests, but a third party making an application would not necessarily receive disclosure as a more appropriate person may be a parent, guardian or carer.
The highest number of applications to North Wales Police came in 2014, when there were 47 requests for information about named individuals in the area.
But in 2015, the figure stood at 40 and last year there were 36 requests.
Charities and campaigners have raised questions over how well the scheme is being publicised in the face of waning numbers of applications.
Of the 227 requests made to North Wales Police, only 43 requests were successful - although the reason for that in some cases could mean that the police held no information on the person who people had suspicions or concerns about.
"Parents want to know if there is a sex offender in their local area"
NSPCC Cymru/Wales head Des Mannion added: “The police need to be proactive in empowering communities to protect vulnerable children and that includes sharing relevant information when they are asked about individuals who pose a risk to children.
"It is understandable that parents, carers and families would want to know if there is a sex offender in their local area.
“While there may sometimes be very good reasons for not disclosing information held to applicants, we need to see regular independent evaluation of this vital law to make sure it’s working as it should and children are not put at serious risk of harm.”
But others have said they fear schemes like Sarah’s Law could be responsible for a “worrying shift of responsibility” away from the state and onto ordinary members of the public where child protection is concerned.
Donald Findlater, research and development director at the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, working with sexual abusers and victims, said: “We have some concern that people may not know the scheme is available to them.
"We would like to see continued public awareness and publicity, whether by local forces or by the Home Office, so that people know that this means of checking someone out exists.”
"Some (paedophiles) might take advantage if opportunity presents itself"
Foundation clinical manager Tom Squire said they often directed people to make an application to the police but warned that most sexual abuse is not reported to social services or police.
He said many paedophiles targeted vulnerable women with children, while others might exploit direct access through getting involved in running activities for youngsters.
He said: “They are a mixed group. Some might take advantage if an opportunity presents itself while others are more deliberate and calculating. Much of the abuse happens within a domestic or family setting.”
According to North Wales Police, the reasons why an application made under Sarah’s Law might not be successful include:
- No concerns identified with regards to child protection or safeguarding
- The application does not meet the criteria
- It is agreed that disclosure is to be made by a third party rather than North Wales Police
- There is no information to disclose
- There are no relevant previous convictions to disclose
- The application is no longer applicable as relationship has ended or nominal has moved out of the area.
- http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/sarahs-law-north-wales-paedophiles-12420320
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