We must use Sarah's Law, says Dorset detective (From Bournemouth Echo)

We must use Sarah's Law, says Dorset detective

8:43am Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(8)

His call was echoed yesterday by the mum of Ashleigh Hall, abducted, raped and murdered by a convicted rapist who she met on Facebook.

Now retired, Martyn Underhill has recently moved to Poole and is backing a new scheme, known as Sarah’s Law, which will be adopted by police in the county this summer.

It gives parents, guardians and other third parties the right to ask for information about anyone they suspect is a paedophile who has access to children.

And Mr Underhill urged the Dorset public to use their rights as outlined in the scheme, which he describes as “another tool in the tool box in the fight against paedophiles.”

He told the Daily Echo: “I would encourage people to report any concerns they may have. I think some people might be nervous about doing so but there has been a pilot scheme and it has worked very well.

“It has got to be good for the people of Dorset to know that the police will make inquiries on their behalf if they are worried about someone.”

Mr Underhill led the inquiry in Sussex nearly 10 years ago which eventually saw predatory paedophile Roy Whiting jailed for life for abducting and murdering the little girl.

His expertise in the subject has led to him being involved in other high profile cases including the murders of 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in Soham, 13-year-old Millie Dowler and 15-year-old Danielle Jones.

Sarah’s Law, officially called the Child Sex Offenders Disclosure Scheme, has been on trial in four police force areas and will be used in some others, including Dorset, from August 1.

Initial concerns that it could lead to problems with vigilantes have proved unfounded and most inquiries have come from fathers who have concerns about their ex-partner’s new boyfriend.

In one area a woman became anxious about a neighbour who had been offering sweets to her children. Inquiries revealed he was a sex offender who was banned from contact with under 18s and he was arrested.

Detective inspector Sarah Derbyshire of Dorset Police said: “Dorset Police works extremely hard to safeguard children within our communities and we are keen to adopt this new service to further strengthen our procedures.”