Loophole that allowed sex offender Rose West to change name 'must be closed'

01 March 2023 , 19:22

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The House of Commons heard current laws allowed Rose West to change her name (Image: PA Archive/Press Association Images)

A loophole that has allowed sex offenders like Rose West, Vanessa George and Ian Huntley to change their names must be closed, MPs have heard.

A bill has been put before Parliament demanding that those on the Sex Offenders' Register have no right to change their names, amid fears hundreds are disappearing.

The House of Commons heard warnings that in some cases they "end up working with children and vulnerable people".

Labour's Sarah Champion has campaigned to address the loophole, and today Tory Mark Fletcher put forward a bill calling for the law to be changed.

He said figures like Rose West, Ian Huntley, Vanessa George and paedophile Ben Lewis had changed their names under current laws.

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Labour MP Sarah Champion has campaigned for the law to change (Handout)

Mr Fletcher told MPs he was horrified when contacted by a constituent who said the person who had abused them was changing their name.

He said: "The person responsible for their pain is in prison and wants to change their name. I couldn't believe this was possible, yet this turned out to be the tip of the iceberg."

Mr Fletcher said there is currently an "automatic right for sex offenders out of prison to be able to change (their) name".

He added: "It doesn't take a genius to realise that sex offenders are not the most trustworthy group."

He said that 729 sex offenders had gone missing between 2019 and 2021, the latest figures available.

Proposing his bill, which has cross-party support, he said: "The crux of the situation is this. Registered sex offenders are able to change their name by deed poll, both enrolled and unenrolled, allowing them to go under the radar of the authorities and putting society's most vulnerable at risk.

"Bizarrely, the onus for keeping details up to date on the sex offenders register lies with the offender, rather than with the police and other authorities keeping a close eye on the offender."

He added: "A sex offender can now change their name and with little difficulty receive a passport or a driving licence with their new name. At no point are you asked if you have a criminal background. In turn and in some cases this can lead to a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check under their new identity."

Safeguarding he said was "about ensuring our most vulnerable are protected", adding "We must end the real, immediate and significant risk of harm that this loophole creates. We cannot wait for another inquiry to tell us what we already know, the law and system as it stands is not fit for purpose."

His Sexual Offences (Prohibition of Name Change) Bill was listed for a second reading on Friday March 24, but is unlikely to become law due to a lack of parliamentary time.

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Campaign group The Safeguarding Alliance has warned that the current name change process is“too simple, inexpensive and unregulated”.

Dave Burke