FAQs
Registered sexual offenders are required to notify the police of their ID, address and other personal details.
The length of time an offender is required to register with police is set by the court. It can be any period between 12 months and life, depending on the age of the offender, the age of the victim, the nature of the offence and the sentence the offender receives. The Unlock website provides more information on registration requirements.
By law, the police service, the prison service and the probation service have to work together, sharing information to manage known offenders. These arrangements are known as Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).
The process is supported by various other agencies, including Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) and the NHS, which are also required to provide information about these offenders.
MAPPA is responsible for:
- Identifying who may pose a risk of harm
- Sharing relevant information about them
- Assessing the nature and extent of that risk
- Managing the risk effectively, protecting victims and reducing further harm.
There are circumstances where you can ask for specific information regarding a named individual through the Child Sex Offenders Disclosure Scheme. This is sometimes known as Sarah’s Law.
This scheme allows parents, carers or guardians to formally ask the police for information about a person who has contact with their child, or a child close to them, if they’re concerned the person may pose a risk.
When managing the individual’s risk, it may also be considered necessary for information about offenders to be disclosed directly to others by the police in order to prevent harm. This may include new partners, landlords or school headteachers.
Information is not disclosed to the public unless they are in a position to better monitor and manage the offender, or unless they are themselves
potentially at risk. For more information on this, visit the Stop It Now! website.