PLANS to give Hampshire parents new powers to check whether people given close access to their children have child sex convictions have been given a cautious welcome.

A pilot scheme will allow single mothers to ask police whether potential boyfriends have convictions for paedophile offences before they start a relationship.

Family members or neighbours who regularly look after children could also be checked.

Parents would have to register an interest with police about a named individual to receive any information.

Police and probation services will have discretion on what information is revealed in each case and disclosure will be carefully controlled.

However if children are thought to be at risk, there will be a presumption parents and carers will be told.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will unveil the scheme today.

She insisted it was "sensible and measured" and would not see information on sex offenders given out generally to anyone who asks or disclosed to the wider community.

A spokesman for Hampshire Police, which volunteered to be part of the trial to start in the summer along with Cambridgeshire, Cleveland and Warwickshire, said: "We will be meeting with the Home Office shortly to discuss the detail."

Children's campaigners have welcomed the move.

Lorraine Tate, founder and former manager of the Hampshire branch of Parentline, said: "I'm totally in favour of anything that protects our children.

"If the information is given to the individual concerned they can make an informed decision themselves without pressure from outside forces which can result in hysteria."

But she added: "There are always concerns about how it will work in practice."

One Hampshire MP said there were still serious concerns about the scheme.

Romsey's Liberal Democrat MP Sandra Gidley said: "I understand the need for child protection but you've got to make sure there are no unforeseen consequences such as witch hunts."

She said there could be a danger of information about paedophiles being passed on, jeopardising police and probation surveillance and monitoring.

The move follows a call for a "Sarah's Law" allowing parents to obtain details of convicted paedophiles living in their neighbourhoods.

The campaign was named after eight-year-old Sarah Payne, murdered in 2000 by Roy Whiting in West Sussex, who had previously spent time in prison for indecent assault of a girl.