Children ‘protected’ by sex pilot programme
FAMILIES in Angus were told about sex offenders who had access to their children on four occasions after the launch of a pilot disclosure scheme in September last year.
Tayside Police received 10 applications for information from parents concerned about their youngsters’ welfare, and officers were able to take direct action to protect children as a result.
The scheme has been judged so successful that Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has announced it is being extended to the whole of Scotland by the end of the year.
Angus Council’s director of social work and health Robert Peat will tell councillors this week: “The Tayside sex offenders disclosure pilot has made a positive contribution to the safety of children in Angus and, following the successful Tayside pilot, will now be rolled out across Scotland.”
In a report to the social work and health committee, meeting at Forfar on Thursday, he says: “Initial areas of concern about the pilot have not materialised.
Applications have been genuine and focused and there has been no significant increase in business for child protection services.
“More positively, some applications have resulted in direct action being taken to protect children and in one instance breach proceedings were taken against an offender who had been having contact with children.”
Under the scheme, parents can ask police for information about a named person who has access to their children.
The information will be given out only if there is a legitimate reason in terms of child protection and then only to the youngster’s legal guardian.
Police are required to refer the matter to child protection services when an inquiry identifies a genuine concern.
The scheme has been managed by Tayside Police with support from a range of agencies, as well as the Scottish Government.
It was introduced across Tayside after a successful pilot exercise by a number of English police authorities.
It is expected to run until the end of next month and a full appraisal will be published in August.
Both Fife Constabulary and Central Scotland Police have already indicated they hope to bring the programme to their areas by the autumn.
