Government changes on name changing.
Notifications OFF
Sex offenders will no longer be able to change their name and hide from the consequences of their crimes under new measures to be introduced by the government today.
But the new laws will ensure official documentation such as passports and driving licences cannot be altered without explicit approval from the officers tasked with monitoring the offenders.
The move will form part of the landmark Crime and Policing Bill, which will be introduced in the House of Commons later today.
But the new laws will ensure official documentation such as passports and driving licences cannot be altered without explicit approval from the officers tasked with monitoring the offenders.
The move will form part of the landmark Crime and Policing Bill, which will be introduced in the House of Commons later today.
"Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women, said sex offenders are ‘often highly sophisticated and will go to extraordinary lengths to manipulate others’". She's spot on, in my experience.
Its important to read the bill and not rely on the media reporting. There are changes which will affect people on the SOR if it is passed, but there is no complete ban on everyone changing their names. Currently people have to notify police within 3 days following a name change. In future, it will be 7 days in advance of a name change.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-and-policing-bill-2025-factsheets/crime-and-policing-bill-management-of-offenders-factsheet
The ones that will particularly impact people are a duty to inform police in advance if they are going to a private residence where a child might reasonably be present. The current rule is that they only have to notify if they are at a residence for 12 hours or more.
They will also have to tell police if they are away from home for 5 days or more. Currently it is 7 days.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-and-policing-bill-2025-factsheets/crime-and-policing-bill-management-of-offenders-factsheet
The ones that will particularly impact people are a duty to inform police in advance if they are going to a private residence where a child might reasonably be present. The current rule is that they only have to notify if they are at a residence for 12 hours or more.
They will also have to tell police if they are away from home for 5 days or more. Currently it is 7 days.
https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3938 the bill is now at 2nd reading stage - as you can see from this, there are a lot more stages to go before it becomes law, although I am not sure how long it would all take