We have received information back from a Freedom of Information requests on the following questions:
- Number of applications under Sarah’s Law
- Number of applications that were successful with the applicant being given information on the suspected individual
For years 2020-2024.
Information received from Sussex Police at https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/sarahs_law_sussex_police_informa#incoming-3087185:
The process for going through Sarah’s Law (Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme) with the Sussex Police is a nightmare and they have many ways to ensure that you “drop off” along the way (https://www.sussex.police.uk/rqo/request/ri/request-information/sarahs-law/information/v1/sarahs-law-child-sex-offender-disclosure-scheme/what-happens-after-you-apply/):
- An in-depth interview with you is for us (Sussex Police) to find out more details and to make sure that your request is genuine.
- Proof of your relationship to the child or children (A birth certificate or personal child health record (red book) could be used to prove your relationship to the child.) you are asking about (if you have noticed strange behaviour between the local shop owner and a child, unless you have a relationship with that child they will not tell you if the shop owner is a paedophile or not).
- Sussex Police might take action against you if you deliberately lie to us to try to get information about someone.
- If we (Sussex Police) think we’re likely to share some information about the person you have asked about, we might speak to them (the paedophile) to find out more.
- We’ll work with other people like social care, probation and health services to find out more (they will check you out thoroughly, are you sure all is in order, do you really want to continue with the application?).
- If it’s appropriate to share some information, we’ll tell whoever can best use the information to keep the child safe. This might not be the person who made the application, it might be someone else (like the child’s parents).
- If we (Sussex Police) plan to share some information with you, you’ll be asked to sign a legal agreement promising not to tell anyone else. [you cannot warn anyone else about the paedophile].
So there you have it, an almost watertight way of keeping paedophiles safe and anonymous and allowing them to continue offending.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this website, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.