Page 16 - ELG2107 Jul Issue 476

SPECIAL FEATURE .

Name
Name games
games

We spoke to Emily Konstantas, chief executive officer of the Safeguarding Alliance,
to find out how schools can best protect their students from an alarming loophole

he Safeguarding Alliance
has identified a serious
safeguarding loophole
Twhereby registered sex
offenders are able to change their
name by deed poll, both enrolled PHOTO BY MABEL AMBER FROM PIXABAY
and un-enrolled, and go under
the radar of all authorities, putting
societies most vulnerable at
considerable and immediate risk of
harm. This renders both the UK’s
Child Sex Offender Disclosure
Scheme (otherwise known as
‘Sarah’s Law’) and the Domestic
Violence Disclosure Scheme
(otherwise known as ‘Claire’s
Law’) redundant and makes a
mockery of the legal system.
The process by which a
registered sex offender can
change their name by deed poll,
both enrolled and un-enrolled,
is far too simple, inexpensive
and unregulated. An offender
can change their name, from
prison or elsewhere, at minimal
or no cost and commence the will change their name for This was despite receiving • A public inquiry into the
process of obscuring their identity sentencing, meaning their birth a two-year suspended prison historical failings around
unmonitored. name remains protected. This is sentence and being barred from registered sex offender
The UK’s Sexual Offences Act highlighted in the high-profile working with children or leaving name change;
2003 places the onus of reporting case of government aid worker the country. • Immediate guidance to be
a name change on the registered Peter Davis, who changed his Using the name of Ben David published for all organisations
sex offender. This is a legal name just before trial to James Rose, and within weeks upon employing people to work
loophole rendering reporting Robert Harris. his arrival in Spain, he took up a with children, young people or
unreliable and resulting in sex live-in position as an au pair to a vulnerable adults;
offenders slipping under the The very live risk family with three young children. • The removal of the automatic
radar of all authorities. He then went on to become a right of registered sex offender
There is no joined-up of registered sex teacher at several prestigious name change;
approach between statutory British schools in Spain, even • A review into the current
and other agencies. As a result, offender name producing a DBS in the name of name-change process in the
the effectiveness of important change cannot be Ben David Rose, despite being United Kindgom;
legislation, the Sex Offenders a registered sex offender in the • A passport application review.
Register, the Child Sex Offender underestimated United Kingdom, albeit in his
Disclosure Scheme and Domestic birth name. How joining an
Violence Disclosure Scheme are in international organisation helps
being undermined and rendered school settings What is being done Being part of organisations such
redundant. The Safeguarding Alliance has as the Safeguarding Alliance
been raising public awareness and the Council of British
The threat in schools The case of Ben Lewis or Ben of this very serious issue and International Schools (COBIS)
Schools can implement a birth David Rose (just one example continues to lobby the UK enables schools to remain up to
certificate check to cross reference of many) highlights why the Government to amend legislation date with trending safeguarding
this against other forms of very live risk of registered sex and close the loophole. We are concerns and issues. The
identification, such as passports offender name change cannot be calling for: Safeguarding Alliance is proud to
and driving licences, as you underestimated in international • Amendments to the Police work in partnership with COBIS
cannot change the name on an school settings. Crime Sentencing and to ensure a global transnational
original birth certificate. In 2016, registered sex offender Courts Bill; approach is taken to
However, this must be exercised Ben Lewis changed his name by • A national and joined-up sex identifying and communicating
with caution, as some sex offenders deed poll and moved to Spain. offenders register; safeguarding themes.
16 July 2021