Management of sex offenders

Number of Registered Sex Offenders in Northern Constabulary area – as of April 30 2012

Northern Constabulary have a statutory responsibility for managing risks that have been identified concerning individual Registered Sex Offenders within the Force area. The management of risk in the community is provided under the Multi–Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), which involve the Police, Local Authorities, Scottish Prison Service, Health and other partners.

Public safety is always the priority, but a balance is required between public safety and the right of the individual. All aspects of cases are carefully considered at every stage of the process, from psychological and risk assessments to places of residence and potential security issues.

In essence the MAPPA process aims to assess the risk presented by an individual and thereafter manage that risk through the supervision process and Risk Management plans. Where an offender is assessed as presenting an increased risk to individuals or to the wider community then additional measures can be put in place, such as increased supervision, an application for a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (or SOPO as they are commonly known). SOPO’s can help offenders from re-offending by placing a number of prohibitions on them. A breach of any of these prohibitions carries a maximum penalty of up to 5 years imprisonment.

On some occasions, the Police will be the only statutory organisation that is involved in managing a registered sex offender. On other occasions, an offender may be subject to probation or prison licence conditions and in such cases the Police and Criminal Justice Social Worker work together to carry out a robust and accurate risk assessment and develop a joint risk management plan.

What is Sex Offending?

There is no accurate definition of sex offending. Sex offending is defined as covering a range of offences that are of a sexual nature and not only those involving children. Most offences are committed within the home or family environment where the offender knows their victim. There has also been a marked increase in the amount of internet based offences with people downloading, taking or viewing indecent pictures of children.

Accommodation of registered Sex Offenders

Housing is an important part of the risk assessment process and is fully discussed by all agencies involved in the management of the offender and is decided on a case by case basis.

The National Accommodation Strategy for sex offenders (NASSO)* was published in March 2007 alongside the introduction of MAPPA and came into force with those arrangements on 2 April 2007.

*The NASSO can be found at Part 6 of the MAPPA circular.

It is widely recognised that stable accommodation is vital to the supervision and management of sex offenders. The NASSO provides a clear National framework for the accommodation of sex offenders in the community with improved public safety and reduced re-offending at its heart.

The new Sex Offender Liaison Officers (SOLOs), introduced under the NASSO work with the responsible authorities to plan for sex offenders’ accommodation needs well in advance of an offender’s release from prison. The SOLOs ensure sex offenders are not all housed in the same location and that no specific risks to the public are created or increased by the decision to house an offender in a particular place.

Figures of Registered Offenders in the community and in custody will be updated monthly.