
Sarah's Law, also known as the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, was introduced in 2008 as a pilot scheme and rolled out nationally across the UK by 2011. The law was named after Sarah Payne, an eight-year-old girl who was abducted and murdered in July 2000. Sarah's Law allows parents, carers, and guardians to formally ask the police to disclose information about individuals who have contact with a child if they are concerned for their safety.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Introduction | 2008 as a pilot scheme |
| Nationwide rollout | 2011 |
| Alternative name | Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme |
| Purpose | To protect children |
| Function | Allows parents, carers, and guardians to formally ask the police if someone has a record for child sexual offences |
| Campaign start | July 2000 |
| Campaign initiator | News of the World newspaper |
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What You'll Learn
- Sarah's Law was introduced in 2008 as a pilot scheme
- The law was fully enacted 11 years after Sarah Payne's death in 2000
- The scheme allows parents to request information about local sex offenders
- It was developed in consultation with Sara Payne, Sarah's mother
- Over 200 children were protected from harm in the first year

Sarah's Law was introduced in 2008 as a pilot scheme
Sarah's Law, also known as the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, was introduced in 2008 as a pilot scheme. The law was established in memory of Sarah Payne, who was tragically abducted and murdered in 2000. Sarah's Law was developed in consultation with Sarah's mother, Sara Payne, and was fully enacted 11 years after her death.
The law allows parents, carers, and guardians to formally request information from the police about individuals who have contact with their children. If the person in question has convictions for sexual offences against children or poses a risk of causing harm, the police can disclose this information to the parent, carer, or guardian. This empowers parents and guardians to make informed decisions about their children's safety and significantly increases community awareness and safety.
The process of making a request under Sarah's Law typically involves visiting a local police station or contacting the police through their non-emergency number. Individuals will then need to fill out a request form, providing personal information and details about the person they are inquiring about. The police will assess the request, ensuring it is made in the best interests of the child, and may disclose relevant information if the individual poses a risk.
Sarah's Law was initially introduced as a pilot scheme in 2008 and was gradually rolled out across the UK. By 2011, it was implemented nationwide, and by 2012, it had already protected more than 200 children from potential harm. The success of Sarah's Law highlights the importance of community involvement in protecting children from potential abuse and empowering parents to take proactive measures to ensure their children's safety.
Sarah's Law has been a valuable tool in preventing potential abuse and keeping children safe. It has raised public awareness and enabled parents to make informed decisions about their children's well-being. The introduction of the law as a pilot scheme in 2008 laid the foundation for a nationwide implementation that has positively impacted the lives of many families across the UK.
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The law was fully enacted 11 years after Sarah Payne's death in 2000
Sarah's Law, or the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, was fully enacted in the UK in 2011, 11 years after Sarah Payne's death in 2000. Sarah Payne was eight years old when she was abducted and murdered in July 2000. Her mother, Sara Payne, campaigned for a scheme that would allow parents to know if dangerous offenders were living in their area. This campaign was supported by the News of the World newspaper and was inspired by Megan's Law in the US, which allows for the publication of names, addresses, and pictures of paedophiles.
Sarah's Law was introduced in 2008 as a pilot scheme and gradually rolled out across all police forces in England and Wales by April 2011. The law allows parents, carers, or guardians to formally request information from the police about individuals who have contact with their children if they are concerned about potential sexual offences. This can be done by visiting a local police station or contacting the police through their non-emergency number. The police will then assess the request and disclose relevant information if the individual poses a risk to the child.
While Sarah's Law does not allow for the same level of disclosure as Megan's Law in the US, it has been successful in raising public awareness, preventing potential abuse, and empowering parents to make informed decisions about their children's safety. In its first year, the scheme resulted in over 900 formal applications and at least 218 disclosures relating to child sex offences, protecting more than 200 children from potential harm.
The introduction of Sarah's Law marked a significant change in child protection measures, granting parents and guardians limited access to information about sex offenders. This increased community awareness and safety and provided a formal mechanism for parents to address their concerns about local sex offenders. The law also emphasised the important role that families play in protecting children from predatory offenders.
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The scheme allows parents to request information about local sex offenders
Sarah's Law, also known as the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, was introduced in 2008 as a pilot scheme and rolled out nationally across the UK by 2011. It allows parents, carers, and guardians to formally ask the police to disclose whether someone has a record for child sexual offences. This can be done by making a formal request in person at a local police station or by contacting the police through their non-emergency number (101).
The scheme was developed in consultation with Sara Payne, whose eight-year-old daughter, Sarah, was abducted and murdered by a convicted paedophile in 2000. Payne campaigned for a scheme similar to Megan's Law in the US, which allows parents to know if dangerous offenders are living in their area.
Under Sarah's Law, parents can request information about specific individuals who have contact with a child if they are concerned for their safety. This includes providing personal information and details about the individual in question. The police will then assess the request, ensuring it is made in the best interests of the child. If the individual poses a risk, the police may disclose relevant information to the parent or guardian.
It is important to note that while Sarah's Law allows for the disclosure of information about sex offenders, the UK does not allow public access to the full sex offenders' register. Additionally, a parent who is given information under this scheme is not allowed to pass it on to others.
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It was developed in consultation with Sara Payne, Sarah's mother
Sarah's Law, or the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, was developed in consultation with Sara Payne, whose eight-year-old daughter, Sarah, was murdered by a convicted paedophile in 2000. Payne campaigned for a scheme similar to Megan's Law in the US, which allows parents to know if dangerous offenders are living in their area.
In the UK, Sarah's Law allows parents, carers, or guardians to formally ask the police for information about a person who has contact with their child if they are concerned about potential child sexual offences. The police will assess the request and may disclose information if the individual poses a risk to the child. This process can help increase community awareness and safety and enable parents to make informed decisions about their children's well-being.
The development of Sarah's Law in the UK was a direct response to the tragic murder of Sarah Payne. On July 1, 2000, Sarah disappeared from a cornfield near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, West Sussex. Her body was found on July 17, and Roy Whiting was later convicted of her abduction and murder, sentenced to life imprisonment.
Following this tragedy, Sara Payne, Sarah's mother, actively supported the campaign for a law that would help protect children from potential harm. The campaign, spearheaded by the News of the World newspaper, began in July 2000, with the backing of Sarah's parents, who were convinced that a child sex offender had killed their daughter.
As a result of these efforts, Sarah's Law was introduced as a pilot scheme in 2008 and later rolled out nationally across England and Wales by 2011. The Home Secretary, Theresa May, acknowledged the importance of the law, stating that it empowers families to play a vital role in protecting children from predatory sex offenders.
Since its implementation, Sarah's Law has been successful in raising awareness, preventing potential abuse, and helping parents make informed decisions to ensure their children's safety.
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Over 200 children were protected from harm in the first year
Sarah's Law, or the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, was introduced in 2008 as a pilot scheme and rolled out nationally across the UK by 2011. The law was named after Sarah Payne, an eight-year-old girl who was abducted and murdered in July 2000. Her mother, Sara Payne, campaigned for a scheme similar to Megan's Law in the US, which allows parents to know if dangerous offenders reside in their area.
The law allows parents, carers, or guardians to formally request information from the police about a person who has contact with their child or a child close to them if they suspect that the person may pose a risk. Over the last 12 months, the police have received more than 1,600 enquiries and over 900 formal applications.
The process of making a request involves visiting a local police station or contacting the police through their non-emergency number (101). A request form must then be filled out, providing personal information and details about the individual in question. The police will then assess the request, ensuring it is made in the best interests of the child. If the individual poses a risk, the police may disclose relevant information.
In the first year of the scheme, over 200 children were protected from potential harm. At least 160 disclosures relating to child sex offences were made, along with at least 58 concerning other offences. This success highlights the impact of Sarah's Law in raising public awareness, preventing potential abuse, and empowering parents to make informed decisions about their children's safety.
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Frequently asked questions
Sarah's Law was introduced in 2008 as a pilot scheme and rolled out nationally across the UK by 2011.
Sarah's Law, also known as the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, allows parents, carers, and guardians to formally ask the police to disclose whether someone has a record for child sexual offences.
Sarah's Law is named after eight-year-old Sarah Payne, who was abducted and murdered in 2000.
You can make a request through your local police in person or by calling the non-emergency number (101). You will need to provide personal information and details about the individual you are inquiring about.







































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