Reid orders paedophiles out of hostels near schools

LONDON, June 18 (Reuters) The home secretary today ordered that paedophiles housed in hostels located close to schools should be moved out, while indicating the public could be given more information about released sex-offenders.

''The home secretary has instructed that no child sex offender may reside in acccommodation directly adjacent to schools,'' an official said, adding that current residents were in the process of being relocated.

John Reid made the decision after the News of the World newspaper presented him with information that 60 paedophiles released after serving their jail terms were living in 11 government-approved hostels close to schools.

In a statement in the News of the World, Reid also said he considered it would be right that ''information should no longer remain the exclusive preserve of officialdom''.

The comment suggests parents could be informed when sex offenders are released into their community, as is the case in the United States.

Reid said he was sending junior minister Gerry Sutcliffe to the US to review how the system -- dubbed Megan's law -- works.

''I'm sending my minister to America to discover the best way of ensuring the controlled release of information to the public.'' The News of the World has been at the forefront of a campaign for Sarah's Law a British version of the US Megan's Law named in honour of eight-year-old Sarah Payne who was murdered in 2000.

Sarah's mother, Sara, welcomed Reid's action.

''At last the government is beginning to wake up and address paedophilia -- a menance that ruins lives at an alarming rate,'' she said in the newspaper.

''The Home Office decision to send a minister to America to study, explore and perhaps, at last implement a British version of Megan's Law is music to my ears.'' Her daughter was snatched from a cornfield in West Sussex while she was playing with her two older brothers and her five-year-old sister.

A convicted paedophile, Roy Whiting, who a judge had recommended should never be released, was later found guilty of her murder.

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