The NSPCC comments on the child sex offender disclosure scheme

A scheme that helps keep children safe by allowing parents to ask police whether people with access to their family are sex offenders rolled out nationally on Monday 2 August.

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme provides members of the public with a way to check whether people who have contact with their children are a possible risk - and if it can help keep children safe the police will pass on information.

Having already protected more than 60 children from abuse during its pilot, the scheme is expanding to eight additional forces, taking the total number of areas covered to 12. A further 12 forces will come online by the autumn and the remainder of areas by spring next year.

NSPCC spokesperson Diana Sutton said: "It's good that the disclosure pilots have helped to protect children.

"However, the government needs to tread cautiously in rolling out the scheme to more police forces. The Home Office must continue to monitor the impact of the roll-out on local child protection arrangements and communities.

"We remain concerned about the risk of vigilante action and sex offenders going underground. All new local schemes need close management and proper resourcing to avoid this.

"Not all child sex offenders have criminal records and are known to police. We urge people to contact the NSPCC Helpline - on 0808 800 5000 - if they are worried about someone's behaviour towards a child and are unsure whether to contact the police."