Rise in number of sex offenders repeating crime

THE number of registered sex offenders who went on to commit further serious violent or sexual crimes rose last year, according to new research.

The study by a Glasgow-based researcher noted that while the number remained small, there was an increase across all of Scotland's criminal justice authority (CJA) areas.

According to the research, the number of sex offenders sent back to jail for breaching Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (Sopos) almost doubled, while 44 were convicted of "further serious violent or sexual" offences.

In total, 77 sex offenders were returned to custody for breaching their conditions.

The study also disclosed that at the end of March last year, 21 registered sex offenders were recorded as "wanted" by the authorities, while another 11 were listed as "missing".

The figures were contained in a briefing paper by Beth Weaver, a lecturer at the Glasgow School of Social Work at Strathclyde University, published by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research.

It collated for the first time statistics surrounding the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements in place across Scotland, aimed at managing convicted sex offenders and the risk they pose to society.

The study noted that on 31 March last year, there was a total of 2,967 registered sex offenders living in Scotland's communities.