1,700 sex offenders in Sussex - how to see if you live near one

Figures released today show there were 1,702 registered sex offenders living in the Sussex Police force area at the end of March 2019.

Police forces, probation services and other government agencies keep tabs on dangerous criminals living in communities in England and Wales using special management plans known as Multi-Agency Protection Arrangements.

The new Ministry of Justice figures reveal that 1,409 registered sex offenders were being managed under MAPPA in the Sussex Police area as of March this year.

That's a rate of 112 offenders in every 100,000 people, above the average for England and Wales.

Children's charity the NSPCC said while the figures were concerning, they were only "the tip of the iceberg".

A spokeswoman said: "The scale of the problem is deeply concerning, but it is encouraging to see that more offenders are coming to light and being put on the list of registered sex offenders, particularly as many of these could have committed the most serious sexual offences against children.

"We know from our own research that recorded child sexual offences are at an all-time high and it’s crucial that the system is able to cope to ensure offenders are being properly monitored in the community.

"But these figures are the tip of the iceberg so it is vital to report signs of sexual abuse where they occur.”

Sex offenders who are sentenced to at least 30 months in prison remain on the register indefinitely – although some can apply to be removed after 15 years following a change to the law in 2012.

Sussex Police removed two people from the register following an application last year.

Over the last five years, the sex offender population in Sussex has increased by 518, or 44 per cent.

Registered sex offenders are split into three categories, depending on how serious a risk they pose to the public, and what degree of management they need.

The vast majority are level one offenders, which means police and other agencies share information about them, but no special measures are required.

But offenders in Sussex were placed in the level two category 29 times during 2018-19, meaning agencies have to hold regular meetings to discuss them, while one was deemed to be level three, the most serious kind.

These offenders pose such a big risk that additional resources such as specialised accommodation may be needed to manage them.

Registered sex offenders have to tell police of any changes to their circumstances, such as their address, foreign travel plans, and potential contact with children.

In Sussex, 22 offenders were cautioned or convicted for failing to do so last year.

The figures also show that 305 violent offenders were living in Sussex in March.

This could include other sexual offenders not on the register, as well as those who have committed crimes such as murder, kidnapping and grievous bodily harm.

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: "Since 2010, more perpetrators of sex offences are being convicted, sentenced and imprisoned.

“This Government is overhauling the criminal justice system - investing £2.75 billion in prisons, recruiting 20,000 new police officers and changing sentences to protect the public from the most violent and sexual offenders."

But what you might not know is there is a way of finding out if anyone potentially dangerous to your little ones lives in your neighbourhood.

Parents have the right to ask the police for information related to convicted sex offenders under a ruling called Sarah's Law - set up after the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne in 2000.

Here is how you can find out if there is someone who has signed the Sex Offenders’ Register in your area.

What is Sarah's Law?

The child sex offender disclosure scheme in England and Wales (also sometimes known as “Sarah’s Law”), allows anyone to ask the police if someone with access to a child has a record for child sexual offences.

Police will reveal details confidentially to the person most able to protect the child (usually parents, carers or guardians) if they think it is in the child’s interests.

What is the background to the scheme?

The law was developed in consultation with Sara Payne, whose eight-year-old daughter Sarah was murdered by a convicted paedophile.

Sarah, who lived in Hersham, Surrey, disappeared on the evening of July 1, 2000 from a cornfield near the home of her paternal grandparents in Kingston Gorse, West Sussex.

A body was found on July 17, 2000 in a field near Pulborough, some 15 miles from Kingston Gorse where she had disappeared. It was confirmed as Sarah.

Roy Whiting was convicted of the abduction and murder of Sarah on December 12, 2001 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

After he was convicted, it was revealed that Whiting had previously abducted and sexually assaulted an eight-year-old girl and had served four years in prison for that crime.

Ms Payne campaigned to bring in a law which allows every parent in the country to know if dangerous offenders are living in their area.

Who goes on the Sex Offenders' Register?

What constitutes "sex offender" doesn’t necessarily mean "paedophile".

A wide variety of people are placed on the Sex Offenders' Register every year, after receiving a caution or being convicted of an offence. This could be, for example, a man who received a caution for having smacked a girl on the buttocks while she was passing him on the street, a 22-year-old female teacher who had sexual intercourse with her 15-year-old student, or at the very serious end of the scale, someone like Roy Whiting, who killed Sarah Payne.

Similarly, sex offenders are on the Sex Offenders' Register for differing lengths of time, depending on the type of offence:

A jail term of 30 months to life = remain on the register indefinitely

A jail term of 6 to 30 months = registration for 10 years

A sentence of less than 6 months = on the register for seven years

A community order sentence = on the register for five years

A caution issued = on the register for two years

With the exception of prison sentences of 30 months or more, minors (offenders under the age of 18) will have their registration period halved.

How do I access the information?

Important: If you feel a child is in immediate danger, you should call 999 straight away.

In all other circumstances that are not an emergency, you can request information relating to a child that you are in a position to protect or safeguard by calling 101 or visit your local police station.

Alternatively you can go to a police station and ask them for a ‘Child Sex Offenders Disclosure Scheme Form’ (Sarah’s Law), or Form 284.

If police checks show the individual has a record for child sexual offences, or other offences that might put the child at risk, the police will consider sharing this information.

You should know that disclosure is not guaranteed - the police will only consider telling the person best placed to protect the child – usually a parent, carer or guardian – if the person being checked has a record of child sexual offences or other offences that indicate they may pose a risk to a child.

The police will disclose information only if it is lawful, necessary and proportionate to do so in the interests of protecting the child, or children, from harm.

For more advice and information on protecting children from abuse, visit the Parents Protect website

But you should know that even if they do release the information...

If the police make a disclosure, parents and carers must keep the information confidential and only use it to keep their child safe. Legal action may be taken if confidentiality is breached.