Police criticised for handing out warning leaflets to suspected child sex offenders

Police have been criticised for handing out warning leaflets to suspected child sex offenders who they cannot prosecute. 

Hampshire Police have been giving the leaflets to people at risk of committing child sex exploitation crimes asking their behaviour to stop, it has emerged. 

Officers started using the 'C5 notices' in November 2016 for situations in which they don't have enough evidence to charge.

To date 54 of the notices have been handed out since their introduction according to figures obtained by the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show. Men received 52 of these and 34 were given to people aged 25 and under. 

The force has since had to defend its decision to issue the leaflets, denying that the scheme was a cost cutting measure.

The notices tackle five main areas, communication, conduct, control, consent and consequences.

It is hoped that the leaflets will make suspected paedophiles realise what constitutes as illegal behaviour and educate them on the age of consent.

However, the scheme has already been criticised for causing “criminalisation by default”. 

The leaflets begin by saying: “Your sexual behaviour has come to the attention of Hampshire Constabulary. 

“We believe you may have been involved in abusive sexual behaviour towards children. 

“We are serving you this notice so you have the opportunity to think about your behaviour and to change it.”

They also ask questions such as: “Do you know it is against the law for anyone to have sex with someone under the age of 16?”

The investigation found that a number of other police forces are considering introducing the forms however concerns have been raised as the receiving of a form would appear on a DBS background check to employers for roles working with children.

Critics have said that the form appearing in the enhanced DBS check means there is a risk that innocent people could be penalised. 

Aine Kervick, a criminal defence lawyer at Kingsley Napley, said the notices were "criminalisation by default", which risked damaging people's rights.

"The employer of the future is not going to look behind it… they're just going to see that you've received a warning notice for child sexual exploitation and have serious concerns about your suitability", she added.

Hampshire Police said a warning notice would only be disclosed during a DBS check if it was relevant to the request.