Sex Offenders Will Be Banned from Changing Name or Gender to Close Loophole in Predators Register

The UK Home Office is attempting to close a loophole that allows sex offenders to evade the sex offences register by changing their name or gender1. Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, has announced plans for a lifetime ban on sex offenders changing their name or gender1. Personal details kept by other agencies including HM Passport Office, HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and the DVLA will be merged with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)1. However, there are several potential loopholes that could be exploited under the proposed new ban that the Home Office is attempting to address1. One is that sex offenders looking to evade detection could simply abandon all their existing accounts with government agencies and avoid updating their details1.

The National Guidelines for Sex Offender Registration and Notification

The registration aspects of sex offender programs are systems for tracking sex offenders following their release into the community23. If a sexually violent crime occurs or a child is molested, information available to law enforcement through the registration program about sex offenders who may have been present in the area may help to identify the perpetrator and solve the crime23. In a federal union like the United States with a mobile population, sex offender registration could not be effective if registered sex offenders could simply disappear from the purview of the registration authorities by moving from one jurisdiction to another23.

Conclusion

The UK Home Office's proposed ban on sex offenders changing their name or gender is an attempt to close a loophole that allows predators to evade the sex offences register. The registration aspects of sex offender programs are systems for tracking sex offenders following their release into the community. If a sexually violent crime occurs or a child is molested, information available to law enforcement through the registration program about sex offenders who may have been present in the area may help to identify the perpetrator and solve the crime.