Offenders on community-based sentences required to report name
changes
Changes will stop criminals from trying to evade supervision
Anyone found breaking the rules could face a tougher sentence
The Community and Suspended Sentences (Notification of Details)
Bill will bring the law for those on community orders in line
with offenders on licence. The Private Members’ Bill passed its
second reading in Parliament today (Friday 23 February), after
the Government signalled its support.
The change will mean all offenders and youth criminals will have
to notify their probation officer about any name changes, online
aliases or changes to contact details.
Offenders who refuse to comply could be taken back to court
facing a tougher sentence, including possible prison time.
Prisons and Probation Minister, , said:
Deceitful offenders should never be able to hide from justice and
any offender that tries to do this will be punished.
Our number one priority is public protection so it is vital that
our probation officers have all the information they need to keep
a watchful eye on offenders – whether that be online or in real
life.
The Bill was brought forward by .
said:
I am delighted that my Bill has secured its Second Reading, on a
cross party basis, and will continue its passage through
Parliament.
This Bill is about keeping our communities safe and ensuring that
we do that in deeds as well as words. I look forward to taking
the Bill through to its next stage - it cannot come a minute
sooner.
This Bill comes alongside the Home Secretary’s commitment to
restrict the ability of certain registered sex offenders to
change their name in specific circumstances, which will be
included in the Criminal Justice Bill.
These changes will strengthen the Probation Service’s ability to
robustly supervise offenders in the community and keep the public
safe. Funding for the Probation Service has been increased by an
additional £155 million a year since 2020/21 to recruit record
levels of staff and reduce caseloads. The number of Probation
staff in post has increased by 17% since June 2021.
The Bill will amend the Sentencing Act 2020 to create a duty on
offenders to notify probation or Youth Offending Teams of any
change of name and/or contact details if they are sentenced to a
Community Order, Suspended Sentence Order, Youth Rehabilitation
Order or Referral Order.
