Calls to Sarah's Law scheme reveals activities of 21 paedophiles
One in 10 calls to police under a "Sarah's Law" paedophile scheme uncovered the hidden criminal past of someone with access to a child, it has been revealed.
The largest number of queries came from fathers worried about their ex-partner's new boyfriend, police said.
Ministers confirmed the new disclosure rules will apply to all forces in England and Wales from March next year.
The year-long trial began in September 2008 involving the Cambridgeshire, Cleveland, Hampshire and Warwickshire police forces.
It is a watered-down version of laws in the US where details of where convicted paedophiles live are actively publicised.
As the scheme is extended, every one of tens of thousands of registered sex offenders will be contacted to reassure them it will not lead to public vilification.
Sara Payne, whose daughter Sarah was killed by convicted paedophile Roy Whiting in July 2000, led a high-profile campaign calling for a British equivalent.
Under the Home Office scheme parents can ask the police about anyone with access to their children and officers will reveal details confidentially if they think it is in the child's interests.
Police may also warn parents if concerns are raised by grandparents or neighbours.
Ms Payne, who is now the Government's official Victims' Champion, and is recovering from brain surgery, welcomed the announcement.
In a statement, she said: "I am delighted that the years of campaigning and hard work by so many friends and colleagues have provided those who care for children with the right to check that adults who have access to them do not pose a danger.
"The evaluation has shown the huge benefits of increased but controlled access to information."
It was predicted many of the requests for information would come from women concerned about the history of their new partners.
But police found nearly one in five applications was from parents asking about a new lover in their former partner's life.
Neighbours, other family members and friends were the other main subjects of inquiries.
The forces involved in the pilot were not deluged with requests as was feared.
Worries that paedophiles would disappear underground en masse and that the revelations would result in vigilante justice were also not realised, police said.
A total of 315 applications for information were made to the four forces.
From those, details of 21 paedophiles were revealed. Details of 11 individuals with different criminal pasts such as violence were also divulged.
An academic study into the results of the pilots said they strengthened existing controls on sex offenders.
