A pilot scheme that will allow the public to seek information about paedophiles may put youngsters at greater risk of attack, a leading children’s charity has cautioned.

The Home Office scheme will give parents, carers and guardians the right to seek information from the police about whether a person with unrestricted contact with their children has a record for child sex offences or domestic violence.

Barnardo’s and probation officers said that the scheme, which begins today in four parts of the country, could push sex offenders into hiding. Martin Narey, the former head of the Prison Service, who is now chief executive of Barnardo’s, said: “Disclosing the whereabouts of sex offenders will not necessarily make children any safer. We still remain concerned that this is not the best way to protect children.

“Children’s safety must come first, and disclosure will only plunge children into greater danger. I am gravely concerned that the effect of greater disclosure will prompt more sex offenders to flee police and probation supervision, at which point they become very dangerous indeed.”

Police and children’s charities have already forced the Government to rule out a wider publication of the names and addresses of child sex offenders as happens under “Megan’s Law” in the United States.

Vernon Coaker, a junior Home Office Minister, defended the plans, insisting that they were a measured approach because the Government was aware that huge numbers of inquiries could be made by people.

The compromise on disclosure gives only parents, guardians and carers the right to be given information about individuals in regular contact with their children. They are not allowed to disclose any information received from the police to a third party.

Women will be able to request information from the police about new boyfriends in an effort to tackle paedophiles who prey on mothers living alone with their children.

Anyone will be able to ask the police to check whether a person in direct contact with a child has a conviction for a child sex offence or other crime that puts a youngster at risk. Only parents, carers and guardians of the child will be given the information.

Police will also be able to disclose whether a person has been acquitted of a child sex offence or has a conviction for domestic violence. If there is intelligence about possible child sex offending but no convictions, this may also be disclosed.

A priority check will be carried out within 24 hours of a request for information and police will take immediate action if they believe children need to be protected. The full risk assessment is expected to be conducted within ten days, with the maximum time for possible disclosure being six weeks.

In an attempt to prevent disorder arising from people spreading details about child sex offenders, individuals given information by the police must treat it as confidential. Anyone disclosing the information given them by the police will face civil proceedings for breach of confidence or being charged with incitement if there is public disorder.

Barnardo’s said that there was no guarantee that the information about sex offenders would not be passed to the press and others in the community. This could result in disturbances on the streets and attacks on child sex offenders and on their homes.

The pilot schemes, which will last for a year, are being carried out in Warwickshire, Southampton, Stockton in Cleveland and Peterborough.

Paul West, Chief Constable of Warwickshire, said: “It is very much about empowering parents, carers or guardians to take the initiative and come to the police service and register an interest in a particular individual.”

Times Recommends

• Should Knox’s trial even have reached the courtroom?
• All that glitters is not sold in Wright’s world
• Believe it or not, Big Brother is your friend