CHESHIRE Chief Constable David Whatton is happy his force is in the next wave to roll out a child protection scheme.

From October, parents in the county will be able to ask police if someone with access to their child is a sex offender.

The controversial Home Office scheme – a watered-down version of so-called Sarah’s Law – has sparked fears it could drive those on the sex offenders' register underground or spark vigilante action.

But Mr Whatton said: “It’s controlled way of working rather than putting out the information to the whole world.

“If someone is starting a new relationship or someone has regular access to their children, they can come and talk to us. We can do a check and tell them if there is anything they need to know about.

“We ask people to treat things in confidence if there are major issues. It was piloted in four areas including West Mercia right next door to us. They have had no problems whatsoever.”

Mr Whatton said in most instances it was simple case of offering reassurance. Where someone’s past had been uncovered, most people were ‘very sensible’.

The chief constable added: “It’s like lots and lots of things. How do we get the balance right of protecting the wider public and also protecting those people who, on occasions, have done wrong? We don’t live in a society where people go to prison and spend their life in prison.”

The scheme will be expanded across all of England and Wales by March next year.

Sara Payne, whose daughter Sarah was killed by a convicted paedophile, had campaigned for Britain to adopt the US approach where details of where convicted paedophiles live are actively publicised.