Sarah Champion MP urges the Home Office to amend Crime and Policing Bill to better protect victims

Sarah Champion MP met with Home Office Minister, Jess Phillips, to seek Government support for her amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill.

 

Champion has tabled several amendments to the Bill [1], including one on the provision of training for Mandatory Reporting, and another to prevent Registered Sex Offenders from changing their name. These amendments seek to better protect children, as well as victims of rape and sexual offences. 

 

Her Registered Sex Offenders amendment is gaining significant traction and has already attracted the signatures of 25 cross-party MPs. She urged the Minister to adopt her proposal and strengthen measures to prevent sex offenders from slipping off the radar.

 

The Bill is due for Report Stage, but the date for the debate has not yet been announced.

  

Commenting on her Mandatory Reporting amendment Sarah Champion MP said:

 

“I am delighted that the Government is introducing Mandatory Reporting. However, if they do not offer proper training on how to spot and report child sexual abuse, we will see overwhelm in an already under-resourced system. This could lead to greater harm to those who need desperate and urgent attention. It’s important we get this right. My amendment will ensure that.”

 

Commenting on Registered Sex Offenders Sarah Champion MP said:

 

“Since 2020, I have been working with Della Wright and the Safeguarding Alliance, to close the loophole that allows registered sex offenders to change their name to avoid detection.

 

I am deeply concerned that the provisions in the Crime and Policing Bill rely on sex offenders to notify the authorities of a new name, before they start to use it. Sadly, sex offenders rarely do the right thing. 

 

My amendment would give the authorities much-needed time to carry out proper risk assessments, before a name change can take place. This will help us stop losing track of dangerous people.”

 

Notes to Editors:

 

[1] Sarah has tabled the following amendments:

  • NC9: Training for those subject to a mandatory reporting duty

  • NC10: Meaning of exploitation: modern slavery

  • NC18: Definition of the criminal exploitation of children

  • Amendment 9: Registered Sex Offender name changes

Lucy Shearer