South Yorkshire sex offenders win right to have names wiped off register

Police chiefs have revealed that 17 sex offenders have won the right to have their names removed from the Sex Offenders' Register.
Melanie PalinMelanie Palin
Melanie Palin

Since September 2012 a change in the law has meant those convicted of sex offences can apply to have their names removed on the grounds they no longer pose a threat.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, South Yorkshire Police disclosed that 32 sex offenders applied for their names to be removed from the register between January 2016 and September 2012, when the new law was introduced.

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Six of the offenders had convictions for rape, including three who attacked children under the age of 16.

One of the offenders had a conviction for attempting to rape a girl under 16.

Six of the successful applicants had convictions for indecent assaults on children and one had served a sentence for buggery.

One offender had a conviction for indecently assaulting an adult and another had a conviction for gross indecency with a child.

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Detective Chief Inspector Melanie Palin, from South Yorkshire Police, said: “A ruling in 2012 allowed registered sex offenders to apply to have their name removed from the National Sex Offenders Register.

“In line with Home Office guidance any decision to remove an individual from the NSOR is subject to a rigorous examination of evidence and information from a range of organisations, so that a full picture of the risks to the public are considered.

“Where the assessment indicates that a sex offender continues to pose a risk to the public they will remain on the register."