The Sex Offenders’ Register

The Sex Offenders’ Register

If someone is convicted or cautioned of serious sex offences, for example, rape or sexual assault they must notify the police of:

  • their name
  • any other names used
  • their date of birth
  • their home address
  • any change of name or home address within three days of the date of the change.

If the offender doesn’t do this, or if they give the police false information, they could be fined or imprisoned.

This Register is not open to the public but it will be consulted if someone applies for a job working with children or vulnerable adults of if they want to be a foster parent or adoptive parent.

 

Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme

If you are worried that someone involved with a child may be a risk to the child, you may have the right to information under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme (also known as Sarah’s Law). This allows you to ask the police whether a particular person who has access to the child has been convicted of, cautioned, reprimanded or warned for child sexual offences. If there’s relevant information, the police may disclose it to the person who can best protect the child. This is usually the child’s parent or guardian. If you want to apply under this scheme, you should contact your local police. You will need to say why you want a particular person to be checked.

If you make an application under this scheme, it may be that the information you provide as a reason for your concern will be considered under child protection procedures. If so, you’ll be told that your request doesn’t meet the criteria of the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme and your concerns will be passed on to the local authority’s child protection team.

Someone won’t know that an enquiry has been made about them. However, if the police do disclose information, the person might be told that this is going to happen. An assessment of the risks to the offender will take place first but the protection of children is more important than the risks to the offender.

It’s a criminal offence to try to obtain a disclosure under these rules by giving false information.  For example, it is a criminal offence to claim that someone has access to a child when this isn’t the case. Any information passed on to you must be treated in confidence. You must not share it with anyone else without the permission of the police.

If a disclosure under these rules has been made about you and you think this was wrongly made, you should get legal advice from a specialist.

Child adoption

7. Birth parents: your rights

For another couple (or person) to adopt your child, you normally have to agree to it.

Once your child’s adopted, you no longer have parental responsibility for them.

Depending on the child’s situation, you may be able to stay in contact with them. This is often done using letters and photographs (and sometimes meetings) through the agency responsible for arranging the adoption.

Fathers’ rights

As the child’s father you’ll be asked to agree to the adoption – but only if you have parental responsibility.

If you were never married to the child’s mother or named on the birth certificate, you can apply to the court for a Parental Responsibility Order to get parental responsibility.

Trying to stop the adoption process

If the adoption process has started, you should get legal advice from a solicitor or Citizens Advice.

To make an adoption legal, a court has to grant a court order.

The agency arranging the adoption must let you know what your rights are – and also at what point the adoption can’t be stopped.

If you don’t want your child to be adopted, a court will give you the chance to say why. A social worker, independent of the adoption agency, will visit you and:

  • record the reasons you don’t want your child adopted
  • let the court know these reasons – you can go to court to explain them

An adoption order can’t be made unless the court thinks it’s in your child’s best interests.

Adoption without your consent

A court can decide the adoption can go ahead without your consent if:

  • it thinks the child would be put at risk if they weren’t adopted – it will send you the evidence they have been given, eg from social services
  • you’re incapable of giving consent – eg due to a mental disability

Crime, justice and the law

Courts, sentencing and tribunals

A to Z

Detailed guidance