CALLS have been made to do ‘everything possible’ to protect children and vulnerable people as a Dorset Echo investigation reveals 30 sex offenders have changed their names.

Figures released by Dorset Police under the Freedom of Information Act show that 30 convicted sex offenders have notified the force of a change in name since 2011.

Dorset Police declined a request to release either the original names of the offenders or the names they are now known by, with a spokesman saying this would breach the Data Protection Act.

As of March 2015 MAPPA – the group set up by police to monitor sexual and violent criminals – was managing 670 sex offenders in Dorset.

The figures released under the FOI show that 4.4 per cent have changed their name. Figures on how many have unsuccessfully applied to change their names were not available from Dorset Police.

Claude Knights, director of Kidscape, said some offenders have been known to change their identities ‘multiple times’.

She said: “There are certainly good reasons for campaigning against allowing registered sex offenders to change their name. Indeed, the Home Office can refuse the right to issue a new identity to those on the sex offenders' register. This restriction lapses once the offender is no longer on the register, however.

“One major concern is that since it is up to the offenders to inform the police about a change in personal circumstances such as, a change of name or address, a number of them will not comply. This allows them to recreate themselves and to pose a potential risk to the public. There are severe penalties for breaking regulations, but we do know that many sex offenders are extremely devious risk takers unlikely to be deterred by community orders.”

There is no indication that any of the registered sex offenders who have changed their names in Dorset have committed further offences, or that they have changed their names in order to commit further offences.

Ms Knights added: “Most worryingly a significant number of sexual predators are driven to re-offend in a persistent manner over a number of years, some changing their identities multiple times. It is imperative therefore that everything possible is done to protect children and other vulnerable groups from the consequences of non- compliance to regulations or potential errors and lapses in data entry.”

Dorset Police have moved to reassure people that, even if sex offenders change their names, they are still monitored.

Detective Inspector Andy Roberts, of Dorset Police’s Sex Offender Management Unit, said: “We have no powers to prevent a registered sex offender from changing their name, however they are required to notify police of the change within three days of adopting a new name or leave themselves open to arrest, prosecution and possible imprisonment.

“Our records will always hold all previous names of registered sex offenders. This means that if a parent, carer or guardian formally asked the police to tell them if someone has a record for child sex offences under the child sex offender disclosure scheme or ‘Sarah’s Law’, this would still show up on that person’s record if they changed their name or not.”