GWENT Police received just 21 applications for information under Sarah's Law, according to NSPCC-obtained figures - who warn children across Wales could be at risk from sexual predators.

The charity made Freedom of Information requests to forces across the UK and today said children across the country could be at risk because of a lack of use of the Child Sex Offenders Disclosure Scheme, known as Sarah’s Law.

The CSOD scheme came into force following public outrage over the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne in 2000 by a convicted paedophile. The scheme means parents and other members of the public can apply to police for details about individuals if they suspect they might harm children.

But the NSPCC also said the figures showed a wide variation in the proportion of disclosures being made by forces across the UK.

Since 2011, Gwent Police has received just 21 applications for information but the force were unable to give figures about how many applications resulted in information being given over to parents.

The NSPCC national head of service in Wales said the charity is both “disturbed and surprised” by the discrepancy of figures and it fears there is a "post code lottery" in how forces deal with Sarah’s law.

Since the scheme began in April 2011 just one in six applications for this type of information in England and Wales has been successful.

Elsewhere across Wales, 374 applications were made to Dyfed Powys, North Wales and South Wales police forces under the scheme, but just 21 per cent of disclosures, or 79, were made.

And across the UK, between 2011 and 2014, 5,357 applications were made to 33 forces with only 877 disclosures being made. Five other forces said they had received 908 applications but did not provide information about disclosure numbers.

Des Mannion, NSPCC national head of service for Wales, said: “Families need to know if there are individuals in their area who pose a risk to children.

“While there may be very good reasons for not disclosing information held to applicants, some forces seem to be too cautious which could put children at serious risk of harm. We need to see regular independent evaluation of this vital law to make sure it’s working as it should.”

As well as parents, carers and guardians, any concerned member of the public can formally ask the police to tell them if someone has a record for child sexual offences.