---

Home Office

Answer

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role is played by (a) local area child protection committees, (b) local authority social services, (c) the Probation Service, (d) the Prison Service, (e) Customs and Excise, (f) the NSPCC and (g) the Police in (i) sharing of information on and (ii) measures taken against predatory paedophiles. [87497] Mr. George Howarth: Multi-agency co-operation is essential for the proper assessment and management of the risk that sex offenders pose in the community, the working of area child protection committees and risk assessment panels and the setting up of written protocols for protecting the public. The composition of these bodies can be agreed locally and may include a wide range of organisations. Section 115 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 gives an explicit power to disclose information for the purposes of the Act, and we are currently working with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Association of Chief Officers of Probation (ACOP) and others to produce guidance on the disclosure of information about sex offenders who might pose a risk to children and others. Released sex offenders are supervised by the probation service within a national framework. Such offenders may also be monitored by the police. The Crime and Disorder Act empowers courts to impose an extended period of supervision and provides for a sex offender order where the present conduct of a released sex offender gives rise to concern.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

333 c349W; 87497

Session

1998-99

Subjects

Children Disclosure of information Crime prevention Customs and Excise Crime Protection Police Offences against children Paedophilia Social services HM Prison Service NSPCC