SINCE the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne in West Sussex a campaign has been launched to introduce a new law to give the public details of sex offenders living in the community.

The mother of Sarah, is at the forefront of the campaign and she has even addressed the Police Federation's annual conference.

Mrs Sara Payne is seeking support for the so-called "Sarah's Law," which would give the public details of sex offenders living in the community.

The change in law has been resisted by the Home Office because of concerns over vigilantism.

"We have only ever asked for access to information on the most serious of paedophiles that are the Roy Whitings of this world sexual predators not on flashers in the street or other offenders," said Mrs Payne in a national newspaper recently.

"When someone like that is put into a community, the community needs to know they are there.

"They don't necessarily know the name or address, but they know that person is in their community and at large."

Mrs Payne insisted strict guidelines would have to be in place to prevent people acting as vigilantes.

But, she said: "Up to eight children a year are abducted and murdered and so it's not enough just for the police to know.

"I think the communities need to know when you have a sexual predator in your midst."

Sarah disappeared near her grandparents' home in West Sussex in July 2000, and her body was found 17 days later near Pulborough.