Isle of Man politician pushes for 'Sarah's law'

Sarah Payne was kidnapped and murdered by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting in 2000

Home Affairs Minister Adrian Earnshaw is facing political pressure to reconsider introducing "Sarah's law" to the Isle of Man.

The campaign is being led by MHK Bill Henderson who plans to ask a series of question in Tynwald on 21 June.

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme in England allows parents to ask police if someone who has contact with their child is a sex offender.

In 2010 Mr Earnshaw said the scheme was not needed on the Isle of Man.

More than 20 police forces in the United Kingdom have brought in the scheme, named after Sarah Payne who was murdered by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting in 2000.

In the June sitting of Tynwald Mr Henderson will ask for details about the number of sexual abuse cases in the Isle of Man and how many people have been charged with sex offences against children.

Mr Henderson will also request that the minister reconsiders the introduction of Sarah's law.

Previously the Isle of man government expressed concern about the scheme, believing the scheme could force sex offenders to go underground.

At the time Mr Earnshaw said: "Offenders who have been either rightly or wrongly labelled as sex offenders and upon whom inquiries have been made will retain that label wherever they live in the island and cannot be easily moved within our small community."

The Manx government said the situation would be reviewed in 2013.