Tightening The Law On Sex Offenders

The Home Office has announced that sex offenders are to face tighter controls, as the government set out plans to close loopholes identified with the operation of the sex offenders’ register.

Government proposals will strengthen and extend the current checks, and will make it compulsory for offenders on the sex offenders’ register to:

• notify the police of all foreign travel, requiring offenders who travel abroad for fewer than three days to notify in the same way as those who travel for longer must do under the existing scheme;

• notify the police weekly where they can be found when they have no fixed abode;

• notify the police when they are living with a child under the age of 18;

• notify the police of passport, bank account and credit card details, and provide identification at each notification, tightening the law so that sex offenders cannot seek to avoid being on the register when they change their name by deed poll.

The Home Office has also published an updated draft ‘sexual offences act (remedial) order 2012’ to ensure that strict rules are put in place for considering whether sex offenders who are placed on the register for life should ever be allowed to be removed. This follows a ruling by the supreme court in April 2010 that those on the register for life should have the right to apply for a review. You can read the full press release here.