PARENTS in Scotland could be told if predatory paedophiles are living in their areas, under a controversial proposal that would see the country become the first part of Britain to introduce a version of “Megan’s Law”.

Such a move also raises the prospect of sex offenders moving to England and Wales to escape disclosure and the risk of being attacked by vigilantes.

The initiative, expected to be included in Labour’s manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections in May, would reveal the location of the worst sex offenders to schools, community councils and, in some cases, local residents. It is expected to increase pressure on Westminster to introduce a similar law in England and Wales.

The move in Scotland follows a visit to the United States by Jack McConnell, the First Minister, where he held talks with officials about the effectiveness of Megan’s Law, which discloses the location of convicted sex offenders in some states.

In Scotland it is likely to be dubbed Mark’s Law, after Mark Cummings, eight, who was murdered in 2004 by a known sex offender and dumped in a rubbish chute.

Margaret Ann Cummings, Mark’s mother, who has spent the past two years campaigning for the law to be introduced in Scotland, yesterday hailed the proposal as the right one. She said: “I’m totally overwhelmed that the day has finally come when our politicians not only listen but take action. Nothing could ever make up for losing Mark. But to know the law will change to make other kids safer means so much.”

A spokesman for Mr McConnell said: “The First Minister has asked the Justice Minister to examine options for publication and disclosure in some cases, particularly the most predatory offenders.”

He added that although Mr McConnell understood why parents wanted the location of all sex offenders to be disclosed, to do so would be too burdensome for police.

The decision to press ahead with disclosure of the most predatory paedophiles comes at a time of mounting anger across Britain at the leniency of sentences for sex offenders. However, it will cause dismay among social workers and many police officers, who fear that it could drive offenders underground and make finding them virtually impossible.

Alan Baird, director of social work at Dundee City Council, said: “We’ve got to work openly with sex offenders. We cannot afford as a society for them to be driven underground.”

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