CAMBS: Child sexual offender disclosure pilot now to be rolled out across the rest of county
A PILOT scheme launched in Peterborough is today being rolled out across Cambridgeshire.The Child Sexual Offender Disclosure Pilot, known as Keeping Children Safe is a more formal mechanism for parents, carers and guardians to ask whether individuals w
A PILOT scheme launched in Peterborough is today being rolled out across Cambridgeshire.
The Child Sexual Offender Disclosure Pilot, known as "Keeping Children Safe" is a more formal mechanism for parents, carers and guardians to ask whether individuals who have access to their children have a record for child sexual offences.
If the individual has a record for child sexual offences, then disclosure may be given to the person best placed to protect the child, usually a parent, carer or guardian.
Any member of the public can apply for information about an individual if they are concerned, but disclosure will only be given to the person best placed to protect the child.
The pilot was launched in Peterborough on September 15, 2008 and a number of enquiries have been received.
The results of the pilot scheme will be analysed by an evaluation team commissioned by the Home Office.
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Cambridgeshire is one of four areas in the country taking part in the Home Office pilot - the other force areas are Cleveland, Hampshire and Warwickshire.
Under the scheme, any disclosure remains a decision for the police in consultation with partner agencies. Disclosure cannot be guaranteed in all cases. All disclosures must be lawful and necessary to protect a child from the risk of serious harm. The safeguarding of children will be paramount.
The pilot scheme builds on existing processes to proactively manage registered sex offenders by the police Public Protection Unit (PPU) under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). Disclosures to parents, carers and guardians of children who may be at risk of serious harm already takes place.
The police will be taking steps to verify all applications to ensure they qualify under the pilot and that any disclosure of information is made only to those people in a position to protect children from harm.
The Keeping Children Safe pilot team can be contacted at Cambridgeshire Constabulary on 0845 456 456 4.
For further information about recognising the signs of child sexual abuse members of the public can be directed towards the Stop It Now! Helpline on 0808 1000 900
