Changes of name by registered sex offenders

A general debate on changes of name by registered sex offenders will be held in the House of Commons chamber on 2 March 2023. The subject has been chosen by the Backbench Business Committee, and the debate was requested by Sarah Champion.

Certain sex offenders are required to notify the police of personal information such as their name, address and bank and credit card details, and to update the police whenever this information changes. The police record of this information is commonly referred to as the “sex offenders register”. Breach of a notification requirement can result in a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment.

The Safeguarding Alliance and Sarah Champion have raised concerns that sex offenders are ignoring the current statutory requirement to notify the police of any name change and that with a new name sex offenders can apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (“DBS”) check which would not disclose their previous offences.

The Safeguarding Alliance says that there is currently a “loophole” in the law, which allows sex offenders to change their name by deed poll and thereby “go under the radar of all authorities”. The general rule in the UK is that any person is entitled to change his or her name at will, if it is not done for any deceptive or fraudulent purpose. A change of name can be effected by methods such as deed poll or statutory declaration.

The Safeguarding Alliance argues that the current name change process is “too simple, inexpensive and unregulated”. It has called for a public inquiry into the issue.