How the system works

The report details cases in the past 12 months where police and probation staff have disclosed details about sex offenders to protect London children:

?An 11-year-old girl made an allegation of indecent assault against a man working at a local sports centre, but her parents did not want her to give evidence. The man had a conviction for indecency and the local protection panel decided to tell his employer about his past. The man was dismissed and his carers told to liaise with police in future. A further allegation of assault was made and the man is now in a secure residential unit.

? Details of a sex offender were given to the media after he was released on bail and disappeared from a probation hostel. He was arrested within a day and has since been jailed for 12 months.

? Police told an employment agency of a client's sex offence convictions. The agency frequently placed people in jobs in hospitals, service stations or labouring, and as a result he was only offered labouring work.

? A man told his probation officer he wanted a job as a groundsman at a place where children gathered. He had convictions for indecency, so the employment agency was told and his application was blocked.