, Labour MP for Rotherham,
has received confirmed today that the Government have agreed to
ban registered sex offenders changing their names to avoid
detection.
In a Parliamentary debate today, the Home Secretary announced:
“The Government will also bring forward amendments to the
bill to restrict the ability of registered sex offenders to
change their names in certain circumstances.”
This seeks to address a significant safeguarding loophole Sarah
has been raising for three years which allows offenders to change
their identity without the knowledge of the police, disappear
under the radar and, in some cases, secure a clean DBS check
under their new name.
Although it is illegal for registered sex offenders to change
their personal details without informing the police within three
days, currently the onus remains on the offender to tell the
police if there is a change in their information and many simply
don't do it.
Sarah has repeatedly raised this issue with numerous ministers
and uncovered the concerning scale of the problem.
The Home Office confirmed, in response to Sarah’s written
parliamentary question, that over 16,000 offenders were charged
with a breach of their notification requirements between 2015 and
2020. The Safeguarding Alliance found over 11,500 registered sex
offenders were prosecuted for failure to notify changes of
information between 2019 and 2022.
Data secured by the BBC demonstrated the same ongoing pattern
allowing offenders to slip through the cracks. Over 700
registered sex offenders have gone missing within the last three
years. It’s highly likely they breached their notifications
requirements without getting caught, making them an active risk
to the public.
Commenting, Sarah said:
“After years of campaigning, I’m delighted the Government
have finally accepted my law change to stop registered sex
offenders changing their names to avoid
detection.’
‘This is a huge safeguarding loophole, which currently
undermines DBS checks and Clare’s Law, which allows women to
check if their partner has a history of
abuse.’
‘I wish the Government had acted sooner, but the new law will
be a massive step forward in protecting the public from known
offenders.’
‘I pay tribute to survivors and charities who have campaigned
hard to make this day a reality and I give my assurance that I
will work with the Government to make sure this can work in
practise.”
