Overview
- Press reports exposed that a convicted sex offender used a string of different names to build new relationships and that he was recently found guilty of breaching a court sexual harm prevention order.
- A woman who dated the man found his prior identity by checking court listings and has criticised the system that allowed him to present himself under new names.
- Downing Street has reiterated that registered sex offenders must tell the police if they change their name and said it is reviewing whether the rule should be strengthened.
- Under current law offenders must notify police of any name change and failing to do so is already a criminal offence, but enforcement relies on offenders reporting changes themselves.
- Campaigners want explicit bans on deed-poll name changes for registered sex offenders and officials say any new measures would require further policy work and likely new legislation with sentencing for the recent breach due next month.