Delinquents and juvenile offenders will be required to inform their probation officer of any name alterations.
The British Community and Suspended Sentences (Notification of Particulars) Bill, which recently passed its second reading in parliament, seeks to close the loophole that allows thousands of criminals to secretly change their identities.
According to the British Government, the Private Members Bill aligns the law for individuals with community orders with those on licences, ensuring uniformity in tracking offenders.
Under the proposed legislation, all offenders and young offenders will be required to inform their probation officer of any name alterations, online aliases or changes to contact details. Failure to comply could lead to offenders returning to court and facing harsher penalties, which could include imprisonment.
Minister for Prisons and Probation Edward Argar underlines the importance of preventing fraudulent criminals from evading justice, saying public protection is the top priority. The bill, championed by Ruth Jones MP, gained cross-party support during its second reading.
MP Ruth Jones expresses her satisfaction with the progress of the bill, highlighting its focus on community safety. The legislation dovetails with the Home Secretary's commitment to restrict the ability of certain registered sex offenders to change their names, strengthening the Probation Service's ability to robustly supervise offenders.
The Bill proposes amendments to the Sentencing Act 2020, requiring offenders sentenced to a Community Order, Suspended Sentence Order, Youth Rehabilitation Order or Diversion Order to notify probation teams or of young offenders about any change of name or contact details.
These measures aim to strengthen the capabilities of the Probation Service and uphold public safety, complemented by increased levels of funding and staffing from 2020/21.
