MP Sir John Hayes has given his backing to a Pinchbeck woman’s campaign to stop serious offenders changing their name.
Emma Watson has launched a petition for parliament on the issue.
She wants the government to introduce a mandatory approval process before anyone convicted on murder, manslaughter, rape, child sexual offences, serious domestic abuse, stalking or another serious violent or sexual offence can change or begin using a different name.
It follows her working with a convicted with a sex offender who had received an eight-year prison sentence.
Although she’d searched for his name online, nothing came up as he’d changed it.
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 strengthened the rules for registered sex offenders by requiring advance notification and allowing police to restrict applications in certain cases.
But reporting a change is not the same as requiring permission, says Emma, and restrictions are not automatically applied to every serious offender.
Sir John said he would bring it up in Parliament.
“She’s absolutely right and it’s absurd that people can change who have committed such offences can change their names.
“It undermines the whole point of having such registers in the first place so a change needs to happen and it needs to happen soon.
Emma said of her meeting with Sir John alongside her partner Mark Le Sage: “It went really well and he gave us an hour.
“He’s passionate about the petition will fully support it and will take it to Parliament, so it is a great result and his support is much appreciated.”
- Breaking News
