Sex offenders taken off register secretly

Eight convicted sex offenders have been secretly removed from the sex offenders register by South Yorkshire Police - two from Rotherham.
PaedophilePaedophile
Paedophile

Among the eight are two rapists, one of whom attacked a child.

A freedom of information request revealed the force approved all of the requests it received since new human rights rules came into use last September.

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They allow sex offenders to ask to be taken off the list because they no longer pose a threat.

Nationally, 43 applications were secretly approved - one every five days.

Sex offenders are normally on the register for life. But when removed they no longer have to register their movements.

They could live with a young family, live near a school, and travel abroad without informing the authorities.

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In line with other forces South Yorkshire Police has refused to name the people it removed from the register, claiming it would breach their human rights, specifically protecting the right to a private and family life. Data protection rules were also cited.

Worryingly, victims are not routinely told that their attacker is no longer considered a threat.

South Yorkshire Police said was not required by law to look at victim consideration when reviewing individual cases, although there was opportunity to do so during the process.

It also said the law did not require information on an offender’s review or the result to be made public.

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A spokesman added: “Individuals are not subject to future checks or monitoring following agreement to end the registration requirement unless circumstances change and further information is received.”

Five of the eight South Yorkshire sex offenders taken off the list were from Sheffield, another from Doncaster.