Kent Police have revealed the identities of convicted or suspected paedophiles to worried parents 21 times using Sarah's Law, it has emerged.

The force has disclosed the information about child abusers under the landmark scheme – protecting youngsters from potential harm.

As many as 172 people have lodged formal requests with Kent Police for checks on someone they suspected of being a sex offender since the scheme was launched in the county two years ago.

It means parents' concerns have been justified an incredible one-in-eight times, statistics obtained by KentOnline show.

The figures have emerged more than a decade after eight-year-old Sarah Payne was abducted and murdered by convicted sex offender Roy Whiting.

The schoolgirl's death led her angry mother Sara, 44, on a campaign to ensure innocent parents did not have to suffer the same ordeal as she did.

As a result of Sara's tireless campaigning, pilots for the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme were launched in 2008.

The success of the campaign means Sarah's Law was eventually implemented in Kent, and elsewhere nationwide, on March 28, 2011.

For the first time, it enabled limited access to the Sex Offenders' Register and meant parents could query police if they had suspicions about an individual who has some form of contact with children.

Police release details of convicted child sex offenders and sometimes those who have not been convicted, but who are deemed to pose a risk of harm to children.

Kent Police said in 2011 it received 86 applications under the scheme – with 10 resulting in details being disclosed.

The following year, 74 people lodged requests using Sarah's Law. Police confirmed nine of these cases related in disclosures.

And so far in 2013, the force has received a dozen applications – with identities released for two.

Kent Police said it considers applications under the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme using Home Office guidelines.

Det Ch Supt Chris Hogben, head of the Central Investigation Command, said: "The over arching priority for Kent Police is protecting vulnerable children from harm.

"Where members of the public make requests for disclosure under the scheme, we carefully consider the circumstances of each request, balancing the confidentiality of the individual and any potential risk to a child in coming to a decision whether or not to make a disclosure.

"Where it is appropriate the necessary disclosure is made."

An NSPCC spokesman said: "These figures clearly show that the opportunity is being taken by concerned parents. This can and does protect children."

The charity last year revealed there are more than 23,000 people listed on the Sex Offenders' Register.

Schoolgirl Sarah's body was found in a field in July 2000 after she disappeared from near her grandparents' home.

The nation was later shocked to discover the man arrested for her murder was actually a convicted sex offender.

Roy Whiting, 54, had already served four years in prison after he abducted and sexually assaulted an eight-year-old in Crawley in 1995.

In July 2001, he was jailed for life for Sarah's murder. He is now serving his term at a high security prison in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.