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Update on sex offenders
17/06/2009
The Scottish Government and criminal justice agencies have delivered 29 of 33 proposals to improve how they work together to manage risks posed by sex offenders, Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said today.
Mr MacAskill was updating the Justice Committee on progress towards implementing recommendations made by a sub-committee of the previous Justice 2 Committee in December 2006.
He said three remaining recommendations - relating to homeless offenders, a new vetting system and police resourcing - would be delivered within two years, while a further proposal about housing applications could not be implemented.
Mr MacAskill said: "Parliament and consecutive administrations have worked closely with justice agencies to significantly reform the management of sex offenders over the last decade - building on three expert reviews and the cross-party report to which I'm responding.
"The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPAs), introduced in 2007, are key to these improvements - ensuring police, social workers and other local agencies are working more closely than ever to reduce risks posed by individual sex offenders and to further safeguard communities.
"The first MAPPA annual reports, which we published last autumn, provide unprecedented detail about their work across Scotland - as well as confirming that the vast majority of offenders comply with conditions imposed on them.
"In recent months we have introduced legislation to strengthen the courts' power to impose obligations, as well as restrictions, on sex offenders, including requiring them to provide police with more personal information.
"The Criminal Justice & Licensing Bill will also enable us to require any sex offender declaring themselves homeless to report on a weekly or other regular basis to the police.
"We have also produced online and print materials to inform and advise families about child sexual abuse and measures to reduce risks
"And building on the increased transparency of the MAPPA annual reporting system we have reached an agreement with ACPOS to routinely publish figures for 'missing' sex offenders, including those thought to be abroad and those whose whereabouts is unknown.
"We're continuing to work with criminal justice agencies to assess the impact of recent reforms, to ensure any concerns are identified and addressed, best practice promoted and new ways of working fully explored.
"That's why - going beyond the sub-committee report - I've announced a pilot to begin in Tayside later this year, providing parents with improved access to information about known offenders who may be in contact with their children."
Commenting on the sub-committee's proposal to legally require all local authority and other social rented housing applicants to declare on forms whether or not they are on the sex offenders register, Mr MacAskill added: "As my predecessor and I had previously indicated, the potential legal implications of this recommendation required careful consideration.
"Having done that, we now understand that it is not possible to introduce the legislation proposed. However, MAPPAs have significantly strengthened the process for assessing offenders' accommodation arrangements - whether public or private sector - since this recommendation was made.
"The National Accomodation Strategy for Sex Offenders (NASSO) has been introduced, supported by funding for new Sex Offender Liaison Officers and MAPPAs now ensure that information is properly shared with housing providers, with whom any concerns about accommodation can be raised."
A sub-committee of the previous Parliament's Justice Committee conducted an inquiry into child sex offenders and in December 2006 presented the then Scottish Executive with a report on child sex offending, making 33 recommendations.
The Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has now written to Paul Martin MSP, who asked a Parliamentary Question on the issue, and the Justice Committee, updating them on the progress made towards implementing the recommendations.