THE fact that sex offenders could not be easily moved within the Island's small community has been cited as the reason why Sarah's Law will not be introduced here.

Home Affairs Minister Adrian Earnshaw MHK told Tynwald yesterday (Tuesday) that the Island would not be introducing the scheme.

Sarah's Law allows parents to make specific requests about the previous convictions of someone who they believe may pose a danger to their child.

It was set up after the murder of eight year old Sarah Payne in 2000 by Roy Whiting - who was on the Sex Offenders Register.

Mr Earnshaw said: "The Department's concerns revolve around the appropriateness of a small community such as the Isle of Man where offenders who have been either rightly or wrongly labelled as sex offenders, and upon whom enquiries have been made, will retain that label wherever they live in the Island and cannot be easily moved within our small community."

He said that multi agency working is the best way to protect children in the Island.

The child protection system in the Island involves a joint risk assessment matrix system, on adults who have either been convicted or who could be potentially dangerous, with input from the Police, Prison and Probation Services and the Department of Social Care.

He continued: "Research undertaken by the Home Office on a pilot scheme does not present a convincing picture for adoption of this process here in the Isle of Man.

"Some of the key agencies and individuals involved with child protection believe that it may lead to sex offenders going underground."

The Department said that Home Office research showed:

• Only 4 per cent of applications led to disclosures

• More than one in five applicants were in relation to their ex-partner’s current partner

• More than one in five applications were from neighbours

 
• Of the 585 applications only 159 were actually reviewed to support the research

• Only 43 applicants were interviewed regarding the scheme for the research findings

• Additionally, 54 per cent of individuals investigated did not have access to the children named in their application and 18 per cent of applicants had applied to the police despite having no particular concerns.

Mr Earnshaw said that the Department of Home Affairs would continue to monitor the scheme and review the situation in three years' time.

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