Ministers have tabled amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill to establish a new child cruelty register, imposing sex‑offender‑style police notification on eligible offenders. The Home Office and Ministry of Justice confirmed the move on 2 March 2026. (gov.uk)
Under the proposal, adults convicted of child cruelty offences - including causing or allowing a child’s death or serious physical harm, cruelty, neglect or abandonment, all offences relating to female genital mutilation, and infanticide - would face ongoing notification requirements designed to prevent further harm. (gov.uk)
Individuals brought within scope would have to tell police if they move home, change identity, travel abroad or begin living with children after their sentence, creating long‑term visibility for safeguarding partners. (gov.uk)
The legislative vehicle is active in the House of Lords. Report stage sittings began on 25 February and continue through March; the Bill was introduced on 25 February 2025 and cleared the Commons in June 2025. Final scope and commencement will depend on parliamentary approval and subsequent regulations. (parliament.uk)
The announcement sits alongside a package of non‑legislative actions: promoting effective civil orders, strengthening oversight of Multi‑Agency Public Protection Arrangements and improving consistency in the identification of high‑risk cases. MAPPA provides the statutory framework for police, prison and probation services to assess and manage violent and sexual offenders in the community. (gov.uk)
Disclosure powers are also being formalised. The Bill would place the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme (‘Sarah’s Law’) on a statutory footing via Home Office guidance that chief officers must have regard to, with the stated aim of driving consistent practice across forces. (gov.uk)
Separately, the government is legislating for a duty to report child sexual abuse. Adults working in regulated activity will be required to notify the police or local authority when a child discloses abuse or when abuse is witnessed; failures may be referred to the Disclosure and Barring Service. (gov.uk)
For operational leaders, this implies changes to case management and information‑sharing. Forces will need pathways that link the new register to existing offender management capabilities, while partners refresh risk‑assessment and escalation processes under MAPPA. ViSOR remains the national database underpinning multi‑agency public protection work. (gov.uk)
Education, children’s services and health bodies should align preparations with measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, notably the proposed single unique identifier for children and strengthened duties to share safeguarding information across agencies. (gov.uk)
For families and carers, placing disclosure guidance on a statutory footing should clarify routes to request checks where there are safeguarding concerns and may increase public use of the scheme, necessitating updated advice from forces and councils. (gov.uk)
The policy direction has been shaped by campaigners including Paula Hudgell, adoptive mother of Tony Hudgell; ministers referenced her advocacy in announcing the measures. (gov.uk)
Analysis: the substance will be in the detail of the amendments and commencement regulations. Until Royal Assent, organisations should track Lords report stage dates, audit information‑sharing and MAPPA referral pathways, and prepare to update training for designated safeguarding leads and front‑line staff. (parliament.uk)