Convicted paedophiles who change their name by deed poll

The request was partially successful.

Dear Ministry of Justice,

'The Safeguarding Alliance have found there remains a serious loophole, whereby registered sex offenders are able to change their name by deed poll, and go under the radar of all authorities, putting societies most vulnerable at considerable risk of harm.'

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions...

1. Please provide all the guidance you hold relating to convicted sex offenders who changes their names by deed poll.

2. Please provide figures for each of the past five years for sex offenders who have changed their name by deed poll.

3. If you hold any information on the use of other names by convicted sex offenders, but does not relate to a change of name by deed poll, please provide.

4. If you hold information on the number of convicted sex offenders known to use other names but have not changed their names by deed poll, please provide for each of the past five years.

Yours faithfully,

J Roberts

Disclosure Team, Ministry of Justice

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J Roberts left an annotation ()

Sky news is reporting that 913 sex offenders known to have changed their names are missing. The figure is derived from the responses of the 16 police forces who responded to information requests. The true figure is likely to be much higher.

The news item additionally relates that the process to change your name takes 15 minutes and that one paedophile changed his name 5 times. He changed his name to disrupt his trial – he could not enter a plea because his name was changed. He was eventually convicted.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voDDJqAb...

Lee, Mark [NOMS], Ministry of Justice

1 Attachment

Dear J Roberts
 
Please find the attached acknowledgement to your request freedom of
information request
 
M. Lee
Policy Support Officer
Public Protection Partnerships Section
Public Protection Group
Her Majesty’s Prisons & Probation Service
 
 
 

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J Roberts left an annotation ()

Please see response here:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...

Prison Service Order 4455 –Requests from Prisoners to Change their Name – is an informative document.

Additional useful information was provided outside the terms of the FOIA:

'I can advise that an individual who has been convicted of sexual offending who is subject to notification requirements may change their name by Deed Poll. They may do so in order to protect themselves and their families from vigilante groups and to aid their rehabilitation...'

The name change, however, may endanger children.

Last night, for example, the 'Wolfpack' handed a suspected paedophile over to the police:

https://www.facebook.com/WolfPackHunters...

The suspect and his family were then moved from their home to alternative accommodation (near to where one of the public-spirited volunteers who helped apprehend the suspect lives, apparently). They were identified immediately . A group formed outside the property. The group comprised ordinary members of the community with legitimate concerns. They wanted the suspect and his family out (it was also alleged that the suspect's brother was a convicted paedophile). The police came and removed them. Watch the video:

https://www.facebook.com/ChildProtectors...

J Roberts left an annotation ()

New law to stop thousands of offenders from changing their name in secret

Published 23 February 2024

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-l...

Community and Suspended Sentences (Notification of Details) Bill

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bi...