Parents can seek out criminal records

Jade-clothing

Well-Known Forumite
Staffordshire police have joined the child Sex offender Disclosure scheme. Parents can ring the number and find out if anyone in contact with their children has a criminal record.
About time too I say, a subject close to my heart and glad to see it has arrived in Stafford.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Any criminal record, or just sex offender related ones? And how exactly do they know who is in contact with the child?
 

Jade-clothing

Well-Known Forumite
tek-monkey said:
Any criminal record, or just sex offender related ones? And how exactly do they know who is in contact with the child?
I think its just sex offender ones, given that its called the sex offender disclosure scheme. Its up to the parents to ring up and find out if someone who is in contact with their child - for example, a lollipop man, is on the register. It's already a scheme that is in force in other parts of the country.
 

shoes

Well-Known Forumite
If they know that the person is a sex offender then surely they can prevent them working anywhere near their particular niche? (kids etc.)

Whilst I's 100% with protecting everyone, especially children from sexual offenders, I cannot see this helping much other than leading to vigilantism, which I don't advocate at all.
 

Jade-clothing

Well-Known Forumite
shoes said:
If they know that the person is a sex offender then surely they can prevent them working anywhere near their particular niche? (kids etc.)

Whilst I's 100% with protecting everyone, especially children from sexual offenders, I cannot see this helping much other than leading to vigilantism, which I don't advocate at all.
Yes, that is true - a sex offender would not pass a CRB check so would not be able to work any where near children.
that isnt to say that there arent sex offenders working with children who havent been caught yet, but this wouldnt be useful for that either.
I believe where it has been an advantage in the areas where it was trialled is where people have checked on someone that is in contact with their child but not in a working role. Cases I have heard of are mums checking on prospective step dads before they marry them, or even date them!
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
I assume only parents can use this service? I assume there is a system in place to stop me calling them to see if shoes flatmate is a paedo, just cos I thought he smiles like one?
 

shoes

Well-Known Forumite
That makes perfect sense, and I can see the benefit to concerned parents there straight away. As long as you don't get the same net result of vigilantism.

Then again, someone who is of the kind of character to carry out due diligence on a prospective date in order to protect their children is unlikely to be the kind of person to then rally up the troops for some self administered justice, or at least I would like to think so.
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Just for clarification, you get to just call up and say "I'm meeting up with x tonight, is he a paedo?" and they tell you? I assume there is an application form of some such? Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely no issue with keeping nonces away from kids, but I can see a lot of applications being made then said nonce dissapearing suddenly without packing!

Out of interest, if someone did touch your kid and served time, will the police tell you where they are once released?
 

Jade-clothing

Well-Known Forumite
tek-monkey said:
Just for clarification, you get to just call up and say "I'm meeting up with x tonight, is he a paedo?" and they tell you? I assume there is an application form of some such? Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely no issue with keeping nonces away from kids, but I can see a lot of applications being made then said nonce dissapearing suddenly without packing!

Out of interest, if someone did touch your kid and served time, will the police tell you where they are once released?
I dont know what the actual process is I'm afraid. I also dont think its solely aimed at parents, I think anyone concerned can find out. I would think there will be more information on the net somewhere but havent had time to check it out today. I knew this was something that was coming to Stafford but noticed it in the Newsletter this morning, that it had started.
As for your last question, I dont know that either!! But I do know that not all offenders do actually go to prison in the first place - they prefer to 'treat them in the community'. I was told once by a solicitor, that the actual reason is that it costs too much money to keep a sex offender in prison as they need too many guards to protect them from the other prisoners!!
 
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