'Sarah's Law' protects 200

The child sex offender disclosure scheme has protected more than two hundred children from harm according to new figures. The legislation was passed a year ago today after a long high profile campaign by Sara Payne whose daughter Sarah, was killed by a convicted paedophile.

The legislation is commonly known as Sarah's Law - after Sarah Payne. The eight-year-old was found in a field near Pulbrough in West Sussex in July 2000, after she was abducted and killed by convicted paedophile Roy Whiting.

Under the child sex offender disclosure scheme parents can ask police about the criminal pasts of anyone with access to their children, and officers will reveal details confidentially if they think it is in the child's interests.

Figures provided to the Association of Chief Police Officers show at least 160 disclosures relating to child sex offences have been made in the last tear, along with at least 58 concerning other offences.