Child sex offender disclosure scheme (England and Wales)
The child sex offender disclosure scheme in England and Wales
lets people who care for young people ask police to check if a
person has a record for child sexual offences.
It was introduced in 2008 following the murder
of eight year old Sarah Payne in 2000, and is sometimes known as
Sarah’s Law.
The majority of child sex offenders are known
to their victims. They are often a member of the family or a
friend.
The scheme allows parents, carers, guardians
or interested third parties to ask the police for information about
an individual they are concerned about and has contact with a child
they know.
If you want to make an application for
information under the scheme, contact your local police. Find your local police and
how to contact them.
Sex offender community disclosure scheme (Scotland)
A sex offender disclosure scheme also operates in Scotland,
allowing any member of the public to make an application for
information about someone if they have a concern about a person’s
access to a child.
Find out more about the sex offender community disclosure
scheme (Scotland)
Concerned? Tell someone
If you have any concerns about the welfare or safety of a child
or young person, you must report it. It is better to raise your
concerns so they can be investigated, rather than failing to tell
anyone and a child or young person possibly being exposed to
further risk of harm.
In an emergency, always call
999.
To report your concerns when it’s not an
emergency, call us on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016.
You can also call your local police on 101, visit
your nearest police station or speak to a police officer or police
community support officer in person.