Thousands of rapists and paedophiles will be able to appeal against their inclusion on the sex offender register from today, despite concerns from the
NSPCC that they must ‘always be considered a risk’.
Ministers were forced to change the law after the Supreme Court ruled two years ago that it was a breach of offenders’ human rights to be put on the register for life with no review.
The government estimates that around 1,200 sex offenders could be eligible for review every year.
Home Secretary
Theresa May said she would make ‘the minimum possible changes to the law’ to comply with the Supreme Court ruling.
But charities have expressed concern that children could be at risk - because paedophiles cannot be reformed.
Andrew Flanagan, chief executive of the NSPCC, said: ‘This is a concerning day for our justice system. Sadly, we are told this legal ruling cannot be overturned but the NSPCC’s view remains that paedophiles who have been put on the sex offender register for life must remain there as we can never be sure their behaviour will change.
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