Murdo Fraser MSP has pledged to push for legislation to clampdown on convicted sex offenders being able to change their identity.
The Scottish Conservative politician recently raised the matter at the Scottish Parliament during First Ministers’ Questions. In his response, First Minister Humza Yousaf told Mr Fraser that he was aware of legislation that is currently being looked at in England to address this and suggested that similar legislation could soon be introduced in Scotland.
Mr Fraser was speaking following recent media reports of convicted paedophile Marc Sherland, who changed his name to avoid detection as a sex offender. He lied his way to become President of the World Burns Federation, where he had direct access to school children.
Speaking in the Chamber at Holyrood, Mr Fraser said: “The First Minister will have shared my concern at newspaper reports about an individual with convictions for sex assault on children who changed his name, but then became President of the World Burns Federation, where he had access to children participating in Burns competitions.
“There are many other similar cases in Scotland. This is a very serious issue which puts children at risk from predatory adults who are able to conceal their history by changing their names. The UK Government are proposing changes in the law to protect children, so I asked the First Minister if he could give us a reassurance of how quickly the SNP Government will move to close this loophole in the law. Otherwise, we could see more incidents of this nature.”
Speaking later, Mr Fraser added: “The First Minister said this is an issue of public protection and stated that any change of name of a sex offender must be notified to the police. He also said he was aware that the UK Government are working on legislation regarding sex offenders changing names in their Criminal Justice Bill. He promised that the SNP Government will work with the UK Government on this but I will keep pushing for this to take place.
“This was a very concerning case to learn of and must have alarmed parents right across Scotland. The sooner we have suitable legislation to curb this introduced in Scotland the better.”
In 1991, Sherland (67) was convicted of indecently two young boys, aged 8 and 10, when he worked as an educational community worker at Strathclyde Regional Council. During the trial, Paisley Sheriff Court heard that as many as 200 children had visited Sherland’s home. He was previously known as Douglas Hammond before changing his name.
