Sex offender scheme to launch in Gloucestershire

A pioneering scheme to improve protection for children will be introduced in Gloucestershire this summer.

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure scheme has been running as a 12 month pilot scheme in four police force areas, and Home Secretary Alan Johnson has today announced it will be rolled out to certain others, including Gloucestershire, from August.
 
The scheme gives us the ability to make enquires about people who are in contact with children, and during the pilot more than 60 children were protected from potential abuse.
 
Steve Ackland, Assistant Chief Constable, Operations, of Gloucestershire Constabulary, says:

“This new scheme should prove extremely valuable in protecting children in Gloucestershire from the risk of abuse.
“We are very pleased to be among the first police force areas nationally to introduce the system.
“We and our partners are fully committed to working with the community to prevent harm to those who are among the most vulnerable in our society and this extra tool will assist us to do so.”  

Gloucestershire will be one of 19 police forces to introduce the scheme in August 2010, the four existing pilot areas will also continue with the scheme and it will roll out to all forces by the end of March 2011.