Peterborough has been chosen to be part of, what seems like a "trial and error" scheme (Child Sex Offender Disclosure Pilot scheme], where, if a parent has concerns that their child is at risk of being exploited, they can contact police and make checks on the background of those who have contact with their children.

Related:
Parents' new rights to sex offender details, 15 September 2008.
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But, hang on a minute, has anybody put this past the people who do have these convictions? And, yes, I am referring to the paedophiles and sex offenders who have committed such crimes. And, no, I am not talking about just informing them of the plans.

I can appreciate how the thought may be difficult to accept, but stay with me as I further clarify.

People, who have committed such crimes, have obviously been sentenced and gone to prison to be punished. However, as I have mentioned in a previous article, vast amounts of money are also spent on programmes to help prisoners integrate back into society successfully, before they can be released.

If this is the case, then one should be able to assume that they are remorseful and are at a point where they are able to take responsibility for acting in the way they have.

So then, does it not make sense to integrate people with these convictions into the development of such schemes, perhaps, by asking them to think about how we can keep the community safe from further crimes in the future?

Because I wonder, by introducing such schemes, whether it will just add to their isolation once they are released.

This, I believe, can lead to more worrying consequences, for example individuals going underground or fleeing to a different country.

I don't think it's a completely bad idea, but I do think it would be healthier if prisoners, or even ex-prisoners, had more opportunity to participate, rather than being released and possibly feeling more persecuted by society.

On the other hand, if it's not the case, that such prisoners are ready to integrate back into society, then on what grounds are we allowing them back into the community in the first place?

The whole issue in itself is controversial.

The other controversial aspect of this debate is the question of those parents who do not take adequate care of children. These parents are less likely to request checks and so this scheme is unlikely to offer increased protection to vulnerable children in these situations.

External link:
Child Sex Offender Disclosure Pilot scheme - www.direct.gov.uk.