My neighbour and Sarah's Law

The problem is - and it's a huge problem - that almost all offences go unreported and unconvicted. So official sites identify offenders but we all know they are 1 in 100 or so at most (maybe less, given that only 3% of offences reported to the police end in conviction, because most people drop out of it - and 80% or so of sexual assaults are not reported).

So the official maps are .,... incomplete ... to put it mildly and we all know it. Which leaves these unofficial ones, with all the problems of lack of verifiability, possibility of mistakes, malicious reports, lack of upkeep etc.

There's a gigantic hole in accurate record keeping here.

Failing any sort of complete and official database, what else are people supposed to do? It risks wrong information and vigilanteism but what else can people do but use the information that is given?

It is accurate in the only sense that matters- it lists people and the offence(s) for which they were charged and convicted. I came across the one I mentioned earlier when I was reading an article, and when I typed in the name of my area for a nosy, nearly fell out of my chair when my neighbour and LOTS of local men appeared. I'm not going to be specific, save to say that one had been in my house doing a job and one had offered to help with something else. I wouldn't have had a clue otherwise.As another poster pithily said, they are everywhere.

I don't. It's not official, it's not accurate and has no proper oversight.

You can make the request and see what happens.

But you’ve been warned about him, advised what to do so it might not make much difference. Assume the worst and act accordingly.

https://www.police.uk/rqo/request/ri/request-information/sarahs-law/information/v1/sarahs-law-child-sex-offender-disclosure-scheme/

I would say I’m shocked but unfortunately I’m not.

This is an example of when the Police won't disclose information - it's not relevant at this moment ("having concerns years ago"), there isn't an incident that has happened, the people around this person are not in a position where they ("dc are older now") are vulnerable for abuse, it's more of an "I wonder if" thing.

I know this won't be a popular post, but there have been cases where disinformation (and ignorance) has caused significant harm (nosy neighbour) - Dr Yvette Cloete, the pediatrician who a neighbour mis-reported as being a pedophile (not understanding the meaning of the words, just recognising "pedo") and was hunted from her home. Source - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4719364.stm
And Christopher Jeffries, the man accused of murdering Joanna Yeates because "he looked a bit weird". https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/16/joanna-yeates-police-apologise-christopher-jefferies

People can apply for Claires Law but Police will want to know if there is a legitimate reason, if they have close contact, if there's been an incident etc, and it's not a case of being a nosy neighbour. Not commenting on the OP's situation, just hopefully giving a little clarification generally.

This isn’t a real thing. People can submit names to it and the group that runs them can add them, but it’s not a formal list, like in the US where there is a public facing registry that is searchable. It’s just run by a vigilante group. Which yes, provides some public information, but none of the sexual offenders I know are listed there, so not helpful at all for making sensible decisions about whether people pose a risk. To be fair, most sexual abusers are never convicted, so the best thing you can do is rely on your gut instinct because official records are going to leave out 90+% of them.

Well, I applied for a Sarah’s Law disclosure on a family member (step grandfather) because I was told by someone he had a history of child sex offences. While he didn’t necessarily have unsupervised contact with my dc (like we’d never leave him in sole charge of them), he certainly was around them when we visited for lunch or attended family events he would be at. He certainly had contact with them.

The police officer who called said as I’d be warned by someone else to avoid him because of a history of child sex offences, then I just needed to assume that was true. Because I now had enough information in the form of a rumour to act on, his right to privacy trumped my right to know. They would not disclose and advised we simply have no contact with him. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Bloody pointless! We did go NC and we have not seen him in a decade or been to any events where he might attend. As it turns out, he DOES have a record! 3 years in prison for sexually abusing his niece. He was under a sexual harm prevention order at the time I put in the disclosure request which limited the sort of contact he was allowed to have with any children.

Even knowing he’d had contact with my children when I submitted the request, the police still deemed it inappropriate to disclose this information to me. What’s even the point?! Anyway, you know this guy is a loser. Just avoid him. Tell your dc he’s a bad person and to stay away from him. I doubt the police will be much help, but I’d report any dodgy behaviour.

sex offenders database uk

What is the website ? My dc are older now but I had concerns about a local man when they were little.

Wow - that website is really eye-opening. I recommend everyone looks at it and sees what is going on in their area, particularly anyone who is female or who has children.

@Heyhellohihi Keep reporting it to housing association, they should move him because he is being antisocial by stalking. You should not have to move.

Christ!

Depending on where you live, there is also Aurora New Dawn, Veritas, Victim Support and Paladin (Paladin is nationwide).

Take it with a pinch of salt on whether it's current.

One woman named on there used to live in my town. She scarpered when she was in court for animal abuse and now lives four counties away under a new name but is listed as still being here. That was in 2019.

It's clearly based on where the courts have them as living, and many will be of no fixed abode because they were thrown out or in prison - that tells you nothing about where they are today.

That is very good advice. I’ve just had a look at their website and I hadn’t realised that there is a National Stalking Helpline.

This!!
I just wouldn’t want to stay there at all after this.
Either you or he needs to move

could you speak to the student welfare team at your daughters school and ask them for some support for your daughter as this would fall under the safeguarding remit. They might be able to write a letter of support to the housing association.

With historic cases they have to be sentenced under the legislation at that time unfortunately, not current legislation/sentencing guidance

I think the OP should focus on pursuing the stalking issues rather than muddy the waters with the sex offender thing. As awful as this man is, there doesn't seem to be any evidence or suggestion that he is committing or has committed any sexual offences. There are, however, demonstrable stalking behaviours.

This is scary, they are everywhere

Contact the Suzy Lamplugh trust and if the police haven’t taken it seriously complain. Record everything.

The nonce in my family doesn't appear on any of the above websites (he was in the police at the time of the offences so I think police have made sure to cover themselves).

Even though my DCs were in very close contact with this person, the police visited us 3 times before they made the disclosure and they barely told us anything. They then made a report to social services as our children were in close contact. In fairness social services were amazing at supporting us and our DCs but it should never have come to that. At every stage it felt like the police were more bothered about protecting the offender.

Call me cynical, but after my experience I believe the police are not on your side, you will have to treat this man like he is an offender. I am sorry you are going through this. I would document absolutely everything and keep on at the housing association.

This.

Don't let the police fob you off. They need to act about the harassment and stalking.

I would also keep insisting that the housing association moves you to a different property. If they knew about this man they should never have moved a single parent with a daughter into this property anyway. So make an official complaint and state that they have put you and your daughter at risk and are now doing nothing to help safeguard you.

You can also write to your local MP and ask them to contact the housing association to support you and put pressure on them.

Frankly it really annoys me how victims of harassment are let down by the authorities who still don't take women's concerns seriously and address things early before they escalate.

I’m sorry that you’re both going through this. I think too that you are probably best reporting him for harassment. This page will talk you through it.

After you’ve reported the harassment I would also inform your landlord in writing that he’s harassing both you and your DD.

I totally get too that you’re worried about her safety in September. Is there a possibility that she can go to your DM’s instead of coming home or can she go to the library at School to do her homework?

I know you say you can’t move but can you not pursue this with the council, I can only see this situation escalating. Surely between the police and council something more can be done to protect you and your daughter!