The UK government has introduced a new Child Cruelty Register to permanently monitor serious child abusers and prevent them from evading police oversight after serving their sentences.
The UK government officially tabled amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill on Monday to establish a pioneering Child Cruelty Register, mandating that adults convicted of serious offenses including child cruelty, neglect, female genital mutilation (FGM), and infanticide face lifelong monitoring similar to that of registered sex offenders. Under the new regulations, offenders must notify police of changes to their identity, address, or international travel plans, and are restricted from living with children after their release without formal oversight.
This “watershed moment” for child protection is the result of a tireless years-long campaign by Paula Hudgell, whose adoptive son, Tony, became a double amputee following horrific abuse by his biological parents as an infant. Highlighting the necessity of the move, Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips stated, “It is unforgivable that someone who is supposed to take care of a child would hurt them instead,” while sentencing minister Jake Richards added that “child abusers do not deserve shielding; children do.”