A total of 20 disclosures under legislation known as Sarah’s Law were made in 2018 compared to a total of 18 in the first five years of the law coming into effect in Jersey.
Sarah’s Law, named after murdered UK schoolgirl Sarah Payne and rolled out in the UK in 2011, is also known as the Child Sex Offenders Disclosure Scheme. It gives the police the power to inform parents or guardians about potentially dangerous members of society who may have access to their children.
The force is now calling on Islanders with concerns about members of the public who may pose a risk to their children to contact them to see if they can access more information.
Estimates suggest that about 90% of disclosures are made proactively by the police.
A force spokeswoman said that under Sarah’s Law officers would ‘consider sharing information where there is evidence that the person poses a direct risk to the safety of a child’.
The spokeswoman added: ‘Due consideration is given to both the subject’s and child’s human rights. Any disclosure must be relevant, necessary, proportionate, urgent, serious, based on credible information and of substantial public interest.’
Figures released to the JEP following a freedom of information request show that in 2013, the year scheme was introduced in the Island, four disclosures were made. In 2014, 2015 and 2016 two, three and two disclosures were made respectively. And in 2017 seven disclosures were made.
More information on the Child Sex Offenders Disclosure Scheme can be found online at jersey.police.uk.
