Paedophile warning gets go-ahead

Alun Michael, the Home Office minister, will today announce the implementation of police powers to warn people when a convicted paedophile moves into their area. Police will only tell the public where they believe there is a risk to children.

Chief police officers, probation officers and offenders' groups all praised the introduction of a limited disclosure of information decided on a case- by-case basis. Police will be able to tell school headteachers and youth groups if there is an offender in their area who is considered to be a genuine threat to children.