IN most situations people living in a community are not allowed to know whether a neighbour is on the sex offenders' register.

However, there is an exception for parents who are concerned about an individual who has contact with their child.

The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, known as Sarah's Law after eight-year-old Sarah Payne who was abducted and murdered by a child sex offender, was introduced nationally in 2011.

READ MORE: How the law allows sex offenders to live all around us in plain sight

It allows parents, carers or guardians to ask police to tell them if someone in contact with their child has a criminal record for child sex offences.

If checks made by police show an individual has committed offences which might put the child at risk then they will consider sharing the information with the person best placed to protect the child.

Police will only disclose information if it is lawful and in the interests of protecting the child from harm.

Parents and carers can make an application under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme by visiting their local police station or ringing 101.

How do I access the information?

If you feel a child is in immediate danger, you should call 999 straight away.

In all other circumstances that are not an emergency, you can request information relating to a child that you are in a position to protect or safeguard by calling 101 or visit your local police station.

Alternatively you can go to a police station and ask them for a ‘Child Sex Offenders Disclosure Scheme Form’ (Sarah’s Law), or Form 284.

If police checks show the individual has a record for child sexual offences, or other offences that might put the child at risk, the police will consider sharing this information.

You should know that disclosure is not guaranteed - the police will only consider telling the person best placed to protect the child – usually a parent, carer or guardian – if the person being checked has a record of child sexual offences or other offences that indicate they may pose a risk to a child.

The police will disclose information only if it is lawful, necessary and proportionate to do so in the interests of protecting the child, or children, from harm.

READ MORE: 200 dangerous internet phrases EVERY parent should know