The Press in York has claimed victory in its campaign for child kidnappers to be put on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

The daily newspaper’s Change It! campaign had called for child abduction to be included under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

And following a Home Office review the law has been changed so that it can include offenders convicted of a wider range of crimes with sexual motives – including child abduction.

The move means that for the first time, the authorities will be able to monitor their movements and activities on leaving prison.

Kevin Booth, editor of The Press, said: “I am immensely proud that the newspaper has brought about a change in the law – and in a matter of just eight months.

“This legislation will help protect children for decades to come. There could be no better outcome.”

The law change follows an eight-month campaign by The Press in the wake of the case of Terry Delaney, who was jailed for four years after trying to abduct a 13-year-old girl, and who was described by a judge as a “serious risk to children in the future”.

Because child abduction did not come under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, he could not be put on the Sex Offenders’ Register or banned from working with children.

Now anybody cautioned or convicted of child abduction with a sexual motive could be required, at the discretion of the police and the courts, to comply with the register’s strict rules for a minimum of five years.

Other crimes added to the list include harassment, sending prohibited articles by post and improper use of public electronic communications network.