Tomorrow, Friday October 1st, sees Cheshire Constabulary and 10 other forces join the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme. This will take the total number of forces in the scheme to 24, with all forces in England and Wales aiming to be in the scheme by Spring 2011.
The scheme allows parents, guardians, carers and interested third parties to apply to the police for disclosure of information regarding child sex offenders. Interested third parties can be anyone who has an interest in a child's protection such as a grandparent, neighbour or friend.
The Police will then assess the application and if appropriate they can disclose information about a person's previous convictions for sexual offences against children, or for other offences that would indicate that they pose a risk of harm to a child. If information is disclosed, this will be in confidence and to the person best placed to protect the child. This means that such information cannot be shared with anyone else.
Over the last few months Cheshire Constabulary has been preparing for the launch by examining the results and feedback from the forces already piloting the scheme. This information has then been incorporated into a training programme which staff involved in the scheme have completed.
If somebody wishes to apply to the scheme for disclosure, they should contact Cheshire Police on 0845 458 0000 where an appointment with an officer will be arranged. Alternatively people can seek advice at their local police station.
Detective Chief Inspector Giles Orton from Cheshire Constabulary's Strategic Public Protection Unit said "A key element of policing today is the safeguarding of children and the introduction of the scheme will empower parents, guardians and carers, ensuring that we provide the safest possible environments for our children to grow up in. "
To coincide with the schemes launch an online service is also being launched this week to provide parents and carers in Cheshire with access to a wealth of practical information about how to protect children from sexual abuse.
www.parentsprotect.co.uk is being unveiled by Stop it Now! and the Lucy Faithfull Foundation. The new online resource aims to raise awareness of what practical steps parents and carers can take to protect their children and hosts a 30-minute learning programme that allows users to work through the issues at their own pace.
The programme covers topics including:- what sexual abuse is, who abuses children, why people abuse children, offending behaviour, signs to look out for in children and adults, how to put in place a family safety plan to help protect children and where to go for help and advice.
Child sexual abuse affects one in six children before they reach the age of 16 and approximately 132,775 children aged between 0-15 living in Cheshire.
Donald Findlater, Director of Stop it Now! UK and Ireland said "While it's important that parents and carers go to the police with concerns, it is vital they have sound information to protect children at all times, when they have a specific concern and when they don't. There are practical steps adults can take to protect children and this new resource helps them to do that.
"Additionally, adults need to know what to look out for in other adults. Sex offenders are mostly not the monsters commonly portrayed in the media. They are people we know, often people we love and care for. Recognising that someone close to us could pose risk to children is not easy to think about. But, if we know what to look out for and where to go for help and advice we are much better placed to protect children from harm."
The learning programme and associated advice and support can be found at www.parentsprotect.co.uk and more information about the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme can be found on the Cheshire Police website.
