Offenders on community orders will be required to report name changes

Offenders on community-based or suspended sentences will be required to report name changes in a proposed law change.

The Community and Suspended Sentences (Notifications of Details) Bill would require offenders to notify their probation officer about any name changes, online aliases or changes to their contact details. The legislation will bring the law for those on community orders in line with offenders on licence.

The private member’s bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday. The date for the committee stage is yet to be announced.

The bill will amend the Sentencing Act 2020 to create a duty on offenders, including those convicted in the youth court, to notify probation or youth offending teams of any change of name and/or contact details if they are sentenced to a community order, suspended sentence, youth rehabilitation order or referral order.

Offenders who refuse to comply could be taken back to court and could face a ‘tougher’ sentence, including possible prison time.  

Prisons and probation minister Edward Argar said: 'Deceitful offenders should never be able to hide from justice and any offender that tries to do this will be punished.'

Labour MP Ruth Jones, who brought forward the bill, said the measure 'is about keeping our communities safe and ensuring that we do that in deeds as well as words. I look forward to taking the bill through to its next stage - it cannot come a minute sooner.'

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