Child Sex Offender
Disclosure Scheme
The Child Sex Offender Disclosure
Scheme is part of a national initiative and aims to give the public
greater involvement in child protection issues across the county.
It will be managed through the force’s Community Safety Unit and
has been developed to inform ‘relevant’ concerned people about
child safeguarding issues.
It is not ‘Sarah’s Law’ but aims to
provide an additional child protection safety net through closer
liaison between the public and police.
Under the scheme members of the
public can either report their concerns either by calling the
Constabulary on the non-emergency number 
101 or directly by visiting a police
station. Staff across the force have undergone training and are
ready to assist and guide anyone who comes forward to report their
suspicions.
Hertfordshire has a positive record
in responding to child abuse issues and the scheme aims to enhance
existing arrangements. Essentially if anyone wishes to make a
report in relation to a child, whether they have a concern or not,
they can make contact with us under the scheme and we will
respond.
Applicants have to sign a
confidentiality agreement and officers have 45 days in which to
make a response. However initial checks are made within 24 hours to
assess if there is any immediate risk. If an issue emerges action
will be taken straight away. Applicants will also be seen face to
face by an officer and given information about the scheme.
The investigation can go two ways –
if there are no concerns police can report back to the applicant.
However if there are concerns a decision will be taken by the
Community Safety Unit around who needs to know the details in order
to protect the child in question.
We will be grateful for any contact
we have from the public in relation to the scheme but will only
give final advice about an individual to those directly responsible
for the safety of a particular child if that is not the applicant
then understandably they won’t be briefed about the details if it
is not relevant to them.
The process of disclosure will
always be explained the applicants and the need for discretion will
be reinforced through the signing of the confidentiality
agreement.
Downloads
Empowerment
Pack (Part One)
Empowerment
Pack (Part Two)
Links
Parents Protect
www.parentsprotect.co.uk
Information for parents on how to help protect your child/children
from the risk of sexual abuse.