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The Government has announced plans to introduce a new register for individuals convicted of serious child cruelty offences, requiring them to comply with police notification rules similar to those imposed on registered sex offenders.
The measure, announced by the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, will be implemented through amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill. If enacted, offenders convicted of certain crimes against children will be required to keep police informed about significant changes in their circumstances after release.
Under the proposed scheme, individuals on the register would be required to notify police if they move home, change their name, travel abroad or begin living with children again. Ministers say the system will allow authorities to monitor individuals who have harmed children and intervene more effectively where risks arise.
The register is expected to apply to those convicted of offences including child cruelty, neglect, abandonment, infanticide and causing or allowing the death or serious physical harm of a child. It will also cover offences related to female genital mutilation.
The proposal follows campaigning by Paula Hudgell, the adoptive mother of Tony Hudgell. Tony lost both legs after suffering severe abuse and neglect as a baby, and his case prompted calls for stronger monitoring of offenders convicted of harming children in their care.
Safeguarding Minister, Jess Phillips, said the register would ensure those responsible for serious abuse of children remain visible to police and safeguarding agencies after serving their sentences. Sentencing Minister Jake Richards added that the reforms are intended to prioritise the protection of children and enable authorities to respond more quickly to potential risks.
Alongside the register, the Government has announced a range of additional measures aimed at improving the management of high-risk offenders and strengthening child protection systems. These include encouraging greater use of civil orders, improving the operation of Multi‑Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), and placing the child sex offender disclosure scheme on a statutory footing.
Ministers say the reforms form part of a broader programme of safeguarding changes, including measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which proposes a unique child identifier, improved information sharing between agencies and the creation of multi-agency child protection teams.
The Government argues that the new register and associated reforms will give police and safeguarding partners greater visibility of individuals convicted of serious offences against children, with the aim of preventing further abuse and improving the protection of vulnerable young people.
