§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether those on the sex offenders register are subject to travel restrictions which allow them to leave the United Kingdom or to move internally or externally in the United Kingdom; if so, what are the restrictions; and how are they monitored. [HL1041]
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)Offenders subject to the requirements of Part 1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 (the register) must notify the police of their name(s); date of birth; home address and any other addresses in the United Kingdom where they stay for 14 days or more in a 12-month period; and any changes to those details. They must also inform the police if they intend to travel abroad for a period of eight days or longer. If the police believe such offenders pose a risk to children or other members of the public in another country, they can pass that information to the authorities in those countries. The decision to pass on such information would be made only on the basis of a risk assessment.
As we stated in the paper Protecting the Public published in November last year (Cm 5668) and my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has confirmed to the House of Commons, we will be bringing forward measures to strengthen the registration requirements, including those on foreign travel, in the forthcoming legislation on sex offences.