Sex offenders who change their name without informing the police could be jailed under new laws to stop dangerous predators going under the radar.
Labour MP Sarah Champion has been campaigning for a clamp down on sex abusers being able to assume new identities after a string of convicted offenders slipped through the net.
The new clause will permit police to stop registered sex offenders from changing their names on documents including passports, driving licences and immigration documents without prior approval from the police.
The loop hole previously allowed sex offenders to change their name and gender if they notified their local police force within three days.
Sex offenders who change their name without informing the police could be jailed under new laws to stop dangerous predators going under the radar (stock picture)GettyBetween January 2019 and June 2022, there were almost 12,000 prosecutions against people on the sex offence register who failed to inform authorities about a change in their personal information.
Sex offenders could still evade detection if they abandoned all of their existing accounts with government agencies and avoided updating their details.
It comes after killer Ian Huntley changed his name to Ian Nixon which meant previous offences didn't show up in vetting before he was employed as a school caretaker.
He later went on to murder schoolgirls Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Safeguarding Minister Laura Farris has now confirmed the amendment will be included in the upcoming Criminal Justice Bill.
Farris wrote the measures would "complement existing systems" and help prevent sex offenders from obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificates or clean passports "in order to gain access to vulnerable people".
Concerns were raised earlier this year when trans rapist Isla Bryson started the process of gender re-assignment during her trial.
Bryson was found guilty of the attacks and was initially sent to Cornton Vale women’s jail, in Stirlingshire.
Isla Bryson - a transwoman who was convicted of raping two women before transitioning to a man known as Adam Graham - was placed Scotland's only all-female jail
PAHowever, after public outcry, the sex offender was switched to a male prison.
Data suggests that more than 700 sex offenders had slipped off the radar over three years - with many due to an identity change.
Following the announcement about the change in law - which was launched by then home secretary Suella Braverman in October last year - Champion posted on social media: "My mind is slightly blown".
"Amazing! Doesn't go as far as I want, but will stop them getting clean DBS [Disclosure and Barring Service certification]. I can't tell you how relieved I feel. Well done survivors!!"
