Sarah Champion MP Successful as Government Adopts her Amendment to Stop Sex Offenders Changing Name
Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, has welcomed a significant victory as part of her work to prevent sexual abuse. In response to Sarah’s campaigning work, the Government has committed to review a loophole which allows registered sex offenders to change their name without the knowledge of the police.
Sarah tabled a new clause to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill which would require the Government to review how this is happening and develop solutions.
Sarah’s new clause received significant cross-party support, signed by 41 other MPs from seven different political parties.
During the debate on the Report stage of the Bill, Sarah said:
“This serious safeguarding loophole leaves sex offenders free to get a new name, a new driving licence and a passport, and then to secure a new disclosure and barring service check, with which they can go on to gain jobs working with children and vulnerable people.’
‘Alarmingly, an FOI request by the Safeguarding Alliance found that more than 900 registered sex offenders went missing between 2017 and 2020, and that was with only 16 of the 43 forces responding.”
Responding for the Government, Minister for Safeguarding, Victoria Atkins MP said:
“I am pleased to advise the House that we are conducting a time-limited review of the enrolled and unenrolled processes for changing names to better understand the scale and nature of the issue, whether current processes are being or could be exploited to facilitate further offending and, if so, how that can be addressed.”
Sarah has welcomed the Government’s agreement to the provisions of her new clause, commenting:
“It is rare for the Government to adopt measures from opposition MPs, so I am relieved that they have finally recognised the urgency and importance of this issue.’
‘But it’s frightening that they’ve been aware of sex offenders changing their identity and evading detection for years but have failed to act. I am grateful to all the MPs who signed my new clause and put pressure on Ministers to commit to a review now.’
‘A review is not the end goal. This must lead to progress in safeguarding children from known offenders, and I will continue to put pressure on the Government to make any and all necessary changes.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Transcript:
Sarah’s speech:
Minister’s response:
Sarah tabled a number of Written Parliamentary Questions on this matter, as follows:
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-12-30/132926
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-01-13/137218
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-01-22/141994
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-02-23/157135