Offender Management Unit
Northern Constabulary is committed to ensuring the safety of children and vulnerable persons by implementing legislation and guidance from the Scottish Government in relation to sex offenders, and as part of this, the police have a statutory duty to maintain the register of offenders under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
The Act provides measures for protecting the public from sexual harm and does so by placing a number of notification requirements upon those convicted of certain sexual crimes. This is the primary legislation. Further measures to complement the management of offenders are provided by the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005.
Northern Constabulary recognises the importance of partnership working and have inter-agency protocols on sex offender management between partner agencies in four different authorities - Highland Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland.
The Offender Management Unit is currently staffed by one Detective Sergeant and a member of support staff. In addition to this, each Area Command has detective officers who are involved in the monitoring of offenders.
In April of this year, the multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) came into effect. MAPPA is designed to enable a united and cohesive approach to public protection through the management of offenders by all statutory agencies.