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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Rajeev Syal and Alexandra Topping

UK sex offenders may have to tell police about social media and dating accounts

Police Shabana Mahmood England NHS
Hand on laptop keyboard
Under the new regulations, police would be able to use the information to monitor and boost surveillance of predators looking for opportunities to offend again. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Convicted sex offenders will be forced to notify police with the details of any dating app and social media accounts or face up to five years in jail, under plans announced by Shabana Mahmood.

In a move intended to help curb the explosion in targeted attacks using websites, the home secretary said “the full power of the state” would be used to bear down on online abusers.

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