Sarah’s Law - How it all works
Note from Sarah’s Law.
The scenarios below are pasted verbatum from an official communication released by the government. While we do not wish to change the content of this, it has been brought to our attention that these scenarios should equally apply to female peadophiles as to males. Unfortunately paedophillia is not the domain of males. So please bear in mind that you can use Sarahs Law to enquire about females in exactly the same way as you would make an enquiry about a male.
Thanks to @FemaleMolesters on twitter for raising this.
Five scenarios for its use
Sarah’s Law, which permits parents to ask the police if someone with regular, unsupervised access to their children has a record for child sex offences, is being rolled out to eight further police force areas in England following a trial in four. What kinds of scenarios could the scheme cover?
The new boyfriend
A single mother meets a man who she likes but is worried that she does not know enough about his background to allow him fully into her family’s life. She telephones the local police and requests information about the man.
“If the mother is given the information, she will be asked to keep it confidential – and could face civil or criminal action if she does not”
The police will check the background of the man because the request has come from a mother – someone who is directly responsible for children. Officers will carry out two checks – a priority check within 24 hours, followed by a more thorough risk assessment which takes longer because it will delve into someone’s history.
If there is a criminal record, the pilot constabularies say they would use special child protection measures, jointly run by police and probation officers, to work out how best to deal with the suspect.
If there is a serious risk, police may also pass on some of this information to the mother – but only if they are convinced that it is necessary and proportionate to protect the children.
If the mother is given the information, she will be asked to keep it confidential – and could face civil or criminal action if she does not.
If the investigation does not find any record of sexual offences, but does find other worrying behaviour, such as a conviction for domestic violence or intelligence of worrying behaviour, the mother may still be given information to help her protect her family.
New boyfriend worries others in family
A couple are concerned that their daughter’s new boyfriend is not trustworthy and they are worried about their grandchildren.
Like anyone else, the grandparents can already alert the police.
Police stress they would always check out the concerns of other family members or friends as part of standard child protection measures.
However, the grandparents are not directly responsible for the welfare of the children and any relevant information which would be released under the scheme would go only to the person with direct responsibility for the children – in this case the mother.
The neighbour playing with children
A family are suspicious of a neighbour’s intentions towards local children. Police will, as ever, make checks. But they will release information of concern to parents only if the individual has direct access to their children.
In other words, if the family who alert the police have nothing to do with the neighbour, they will not know the outcome of their inquiry – but other parents whose children are more directly involved with the subject may be given information.
Police may have a difficult judgement to make if someone is asking about a neighbour, who officers know is an offender but have no reason to suspect poses a risk because he is co-operating with monitoring arrangements.
The odd-looking neighbour
A family doesn’t like the look of the man who lives nearby. They say he’s a bit shifty, reclusive and is always rude if spoken to. They ask the police to tell them about the individual’s background.
Police are highly unlikely to provide any information because the family has not provided any reasonable suspicion that children are at risk.
The pilot’s purpose is to protect children and the family will have to show that the neighbour has some kind of access to their children. One concern over the pilots is that they could be used to settle scores and spread malicious rumours. This block on unwarranted requests for information, and the insistence on confidentiality, is designed to prevent rumours spreading.
The sports coach
A man has been offering informal football coaching and doesn’t seem to be part of any club, leisure centre or school set-up. A parent is concerned about rumours about the man doing the rounds.
Parents can ask for information because this is clearly direct access to their child. If the coach is found to be a risk, the parent will be told but will also be asked to keep that information to themselves.
The full force of multi-agency monitoring arrangements will come into action to stop the man. The success of these monitoring arrangements relies greatly on preventing someone going underground. A local witch-hunt or vigilante action increases the risk of someone disappearing from view.
Some child protection experts predict these kinds of scenarios will be the hardest to manage because a parent who has information on the man’s record may feel overwhelmingly obliged to alert others, regardless of police warnings.
If the man poses no risk and has simply been a little naive, police may advise him how to avoid any future misunderstandings, such as by ensuring that he can provide an up-to-date criminal record check.
as a worried and concerned parent, i would like to talk to somebody about a neighbour would any body be able to contact me on my mobile on 07988******
can someone please tell me how to use this site to find out about someone
Please look at “How it all works” above
My estranged wife is dating, I have four young children who live with there mother. the youngest being my daughter at 4yrs old. can i use sarah’s law to check the back ground of the boyfriend.
I would also like to know the answer to this as I have similar concerns
I to have the same concerns as Chris and Simon, all i need to know is that my daughter is safe with my x -wife boyfriend…
Hi,
I am a single mum with two young teenagers. I have just started dating a guy..that has not yet met my kids. He has been honest and open enough to tell me he has a criminal record from his teenage years, getting in fights etc. He also has 3 kids of his own, two he doesn’t see….he says this is because him and the mother didn’t get along. Would I be wise in checking up on this guy?
If you have concerns , CHECK!
If only for piece of mind. It wont harm anyone and your new boyfriend will not know.
Call the police and ask to speak to an officer familiar with Sarahs Law.
i have been to the police but they said they are not allowed to tell me anything what can i do about it
Are your police force participating in Sarahs Law?
If so and you are someone who is responsible for the care of children they should be able to tell you. Please read “How the law works” above
My ex wife is seeing a new man ands he is spendin nights at her house, she is also taking my children to his house overnight, I have two young children who live with there mother.. can i use sarah’s law to check the back ground of the boyfriend.
Hi im recently a new mum to my 2 month old daughter, i live with my mum and dad and partner, my partners mum and STEP-DAD are very strange they keep referring to themselves as mum and dad of the baby and are very obsessive with my child they really want to have her alone without me all the time. my main concern is that the step-dad is weird and has a pretty colourful past by the sounds of it. He used to have a child and one day his wife got up and walked out with the child and he never seen them since, the step-dads family new were his child was and refused to tell him. he wont tell anybody any more information about this and gets angry when u approach him about it. it scares me leaving my daughter with him as im not sure what it is he has to hide, were do i stand on getting information about him ?
How can i find out which areas operate Sarah’s Law?
I do not personally have experience of using Sarahs Law, however am doing some research as part of my dissertation into whether england should adopt a more accessible registry similar to megans law in america. I would be most grateful if anyone could share their opinions with me? anonymity and confidentiality will be kept at all times. Many Thanks
hi need some advice about a person who i have heard things about how do i go about this
Hi All
I am new to this site,
I know of a section 1 sexaul offender who is working in a childrens play area,
I have passed these details on to Young Peoples Service as they now like to be called but they will always be the S.S. to me it fits better, that was over 2 months now and he was even playing sata at christmas, i have tried talking to the employer and showed him all the information that i have his reply was”He works for a low wage so it is worth the risk” sorry i cannot put my reply on here, tried the police they say if he cause’s a problem we will sort it out,
Who else can i inform please anyone ?
Presumably if he is employed with children he will have had a CRC (criminal record check) conducted. Please contact the CRB and ask their advice.
Call the CRB helpline on
0870 9090 811
Thank you but NO he is not covered by a CRB check as there is a sign in the park that say’s “Children must be supervised at all time’s” So his employer say’s he don’t need to CRB his staff and it cost’s to much any way,
I would let the CRB determine if his staff need CRC’s. Give them a call
Thank you i will, How can we let more people know about your site ?
I have put it on my Facebook site, and my web site, is there any other way please ?
Thanks Brian, just keep doing what your doing. Hopefully we will soon get some funding which will help the website evolve.
Thank you
Thank you admin
We would love to help can you send details that we could run an event for you to raise funds.
our web site is http://www.felixstoweeventsteam.co.uk
I have contacted C.R.B. but sadly just got the run around.
So i am now trying http://www.isa.homeoffice.gov.uk
Thanks Brian
Thank you for your kind offer Brian it is very much appreciated , however, we are not in a position to accept donations just yet.
Ill ping you when we are.
I followed what was suggested and went to the police station asked what i was their for and said had concerns for my unborn child coming into contact with a man my sister is dating i gave his name date of birth and address and told me the info i needed may not be as easy it was just he was a real danger to my child, all i can suggest is trust your gut i did hope this helps x