I and many survivors of CSA (child sexual abuse) and CSE (child sexual exploitation) would like for you to stop allowing registered sex offenders to change their legal names, thus allowing them to relocate and hide under an alias.
Why is this important?
This is vitally important to recognise and change.
In my case the abuser was able to manipulate and delay his trial and plea hearing on the basis that he had recently changed his name (again), so he was unable to enter a plea.
He is a prolific sex offender and I am aware of at least 3 names that he has been known by in the last 10 years.
Not only does this make a mockery of the judicial process and waste valuable court time. It also means offenders are free to relocate and make a new life under a new name, therefore anyone using Sarah's Law to try an obtain details would fail.
Given that offenders are likely to have upwards of 50 victims during their lifetimes, it is imperative that once on the sex offenders register, their names, as their whereabouts, remains consistent.
I was horrified whilst meeting with a member of the probation team who supports victims and survivors, when I was informed that this is standard for most prolific offenders, and that the probation service themselves find it hard to keep up with who's who.
Surely this is such an easy fix as to allow victims, survivors, the police, probation, the prison service, and the judicial process, to be aware of and have a tighter reign, on sex offenders and a clear view of their offending.
See here how offenders are able to live in plain sight...
https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/17452926.how-sex-offenders-are-able-to-live-in-communities-in-plain-sight/
I thank each and every one of you who take the time to sign and share this very important petition, together we can be the change!
How it will be delivered
I would like to deliver this petition in person direct to The RT Hon Robert Buckland QC MP - Secretary of State for Justice
