§ Mrs. Helen ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to introduce legislation which enables community leaders to be informed if registered paedophiles move into their area. [24918]
§ Beverley HughesThe police already have and use the power to disclose information to individuals or groups in the community where they believe that doing so is necessary to prevent an offence from being committed. They assess to whom to disclose the information and how to do so on the basis of the circumstances of the individual case.
We have made it clear that local people who are properly trained will be enabled to take part in the local public protection panels we have required the police and probation services to set up to manage dangerous offenders in the community. This is an important way of ensuring that the local community feels it has a voice and a representative in the process.