For those who have yet to read this months issue of The Record, you will have missed an article by Andy H outlining proposed changes to the Sex Offenders Register, affecting all those who are subject to the notification requirements.

Briefly, it is proposed to add the following requirements to the current arrangements:

i) notify the police of all foreign travel (currently only travel outside of the UK for three or more days is notified)
ii) notify weekly where they are registered as having 'no fixed abode' (where a registered sex offender has no sole or main residence and instead must notify the police of the place where they can regularly be found)
iii) notify the police when living in a household with a child under the age of 18
iv) notify the police of passport, bank account and credit card details and provide the police with proof of identification at each notification

Whilst this consultation is targeted towards key groups and agencies managing sexual offenders, public responses are welcomed. As such, this gives Unlock members who would be affected by these proposals to present their opinions. The consultation documents outline the proposals in reasonable detail, and it is clear that they are seeking opinions on whether the measures are proportionate to the risks presented in these "loopholes" in current legislation.

As such, if you read through the documentation and feel that the proposed measures are disproportionate to the perceived risk, or that the costs involved might be better utilised elsewhere in the justice system, I suggest you submit a detailed and considered response to this consultation.