CONVICTED sex offenders face having their identities revealed to neighbours if they ignore warnings on their behaviour under tough new measures announced today.

Justice minister Cathy Jamieson said offenders who committed sickening crimes could not expect a "lifelong blanket of anonymity" if they did not co-operate in their own rehabilitation.

She said the moves were partly prompted by concerns raised about the case of murdered West Lothian schoolboy Rory Blackhall, who was killed by a man awaiting trial for sex offences.

The new system of formal police warnings would be introduced for sex offenders whose whereabouts or activities give rise to concern. If the warnings are ignored, chief constables would have the power to disclose information about their background or whereabouts to relevant "third parties" such as a householder or employer, a headteacher or a swimming pool manager.

Police are also to be given powers to enter and search the homes of sex offenders, who will also be required to provide the police with details of their passports, bank accounts and credit cards.

The new measures are based on recommendations by Professor George Irving, appointed to look into tightening up the system after the murder of eight-year-old Mark Cummings by a convicted paedophile in Glasgow last year.

This is cache, read story here