Closing a legal loophole allowing registered sex offenders to change their name would end “the real, immediate and significant risk of harm” it poses, a Conservative MP has said. Mark Fletcher told MPs there was an “automatic right for sex offenders out of prison to be able to change (their) name”, adding: “It doesn’t take a genius to realise that sex offenders are not the most trustworthy group.”
The MP for Bolsover said his Bill would prohibit a person subject to notification requirements under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 from changing their name, adding it was backed by two former home secretaries and a former justice secretary.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Fletcher said: “This Bill is one of several steps that need to be taken to fix safeguarding in this country and to ensure that those who have committed some of the most heinous crimes including rape, assault by penetration, indecent photographs of children offences and sexual communications with a child are not able to use a loophole to change their names to escape scrutiny, authorities and in some cases end up working with children and vulnerable people.”
He added: “The crux of the situation is this. Registered sex offenders are able to change their name by deed poll, both enrolled and unenrolled, allowing them to go under the radar of the authorities and putting society’s most vulnerable at risk.
“Bizarrely, the onus for keeping details up to date on the sex offenders register lies with the offender, rather than with the police and other authorities keeping a close eye on the offender.”
He added: “A sex offender can now change their name and with little difficulty receive a passport or a driving licence with their new name. At no point are you asked if you have a criminal background. In turn and in some cases this can lead to a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check under their new identity.”
Safeguarding he said was “about ensuring our most vulnerable are protected”, adding “We must end the real, immediate and significant risk of harm that this loophole creates. We cannot wait for another inquiry to tell us what we already know, the law and system as it stands is not fit for purpose.”
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His Sexual Offences (Prohibition of Name Change) Bill was listed for a second reading on Friday March 24, but is unlikely to become law due to a lack of parliamentary time.
