June 19, 2006: Child Sex Offenders Moved Away From Schools

In a move to tighten restrictions on convicted child sex offenders, the Home Office has announced that probation hostels that happen to be located near schools will no longer hold released prisoners who were convicted of sex crimes against children. The decision was put into immediate effect, and over the weekend dozens of prisoners with histories involving such crimes were moved out of 11 hostels across England and Wales. Home Secretary John Reid stated

"I have instructed that no child sex offenders reside in accommodation directly adjacent to schools."

The Home Secretary also announced that a Home Office minister would travel to the United States to study how it controls information relating to those convicted of sex crimes involving children. Under  'Megan's Law', convicted US offenders must register with authorities, and their addresses are made available to members of the public. The law is based on the assumption that parents have the right to know if a convicted sex offender lives in their neighbourhood. Dr Reid added:

"'I start from the position that information should no longer remain the exclusive preserve of officialdom."

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