Family Rights Group | Parents’ Forum

My head is swirling with SO many questions, and hoping those further along the process may be able to offer some insight..

1) employers - if there’s no contractual obligation to tell the employer, and no conflicts in terms of coming into contact with U18’s as part of their role, is it reasonable to not disclose anything to employer? Or can/do probation / police inform employers anyway as a matter of course? (Thinking if monitoring software is imposed as part of a SHPO and OH has a work phone and laptop which presumably would be subject to the software). The worry of OH losing his job and the impact on us financially is overwhelming

2) has anyone got experience of requesting the matter is dealt with by courts out of area and been successful with said request? And did this make a difference in terms of people finding out / being reported locally ?

Heard that the threshold for requesting it be kept out of the public domain is very high, and is not often granted, and and also that if you do request it then the media are advised that such a request has been made, which surely only serves to raise more interest/intrigue, when the very point of requesting it be kept out is to avoid attention on the case!

I really do feel it is so unfair on the families, wives, children etc, that this kinda thing is reported without consideration to the impact on the families. Surely it’s a safeguarding issue given how emotive this topic is for the general population, the risk of vigilante action is real!

3) character reference for court - any advice around what should / shouldn’t be included in a character reference for OH when it comes to sentencing would be much appreciated

TIA

Dear RisePhoenix

Suzie (FRG Adviser) here, thank you for your post.

I hope the organisations and charities that am signposting you to will help answer some of your questions at this difficult time for you and your family.
UNLOCK has some suggestions about employers ‘to disclose or not to disclose’ and information about character references.

The question of whether a hearing can be held in a different area or kept out of the public domain is likely to be subject to the decision of the judge/court. Other Forum users may be able to describe their experiences to you.

Here is information from the Ministry of Justice about attending court/public access to courts and Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has information about the justice system.

Safer Lives and this publication called Managing Risk and Trauma after Online Sexual Offending: A whole family safeguarding guide may be helpful or informative to you.

Best wishes
Suzie
Family Rights Group Adviser