High number of sex offenders in N Wales
THE number of sex offenders in North Wales is 22% higher than the average across Wales and England.
Figures released by the Home Office show there were 812 registered sex offenders in the North Wales Police force area in March 2017 – 131.6 per 100,000 people aged 10 and over. The rate is the sixth highest recorded in Wales and England and is equivalent to one sex offender for every 760 people aged 10 and over.
The figures cover offenders managed by Multi-Agency Public Protectionection Arrangements (MAPPA), whichich are aimed at preventing furtherr offences.
North Wales Police declined to comment on the figures, but have previously spoken about increases in the reporting of sex offences as victims become more confident in coming forward.
Police and Crime Commis-missioner Arfon Jones (picturedtured above) has made bringing more sex offenders to justice one of his priorities.
Across Wales and England, there were 108 sex offenders per 100,000 of the population aged 10 and over in March 2017.
This is an increase from 104 in March 2016 and continues a trend of successive annual increases.
The number of registered sex offenders per head of population has risen by more than two thirds (69%) over the past 10 years, from 64 per 100,000 people aged 10 and over in 2006/07.
The increase in the number of sex offenders is influenced by sentencing trends, in which the number of people convicted of sexual offences is increasing.
Additionally, many sexual offenders are required to register for long periods of time, with some registering for life.
Earlier this year, Detective Chief Superintendent Wayne Jones of North Wales Police said: “We have significantly increased specialist resources to deal with these types of crime and provide ongoing care and support to victims.
“This approach is working, with more people than ever willing to come forward in the knowledge that North Wales Police will investigate, will treat victims victim sensitively and will offer them the support throughout the process. pr We have increased resources re in our Amethyst team, t which investigates rape offences, and invested in our Onyx team which coordinates investigations into in child sexual exploitation. We have also expanded our capacity capa to investigate offences online.” The Police and Crime Commissioner said: “The number of rape and other serious sexual assaults reported to the police are high. However, they remain under-reported and more needs to be done to encourage victims to come forward, regardless of when the crime was committed. In relation to child sexual exploitation, a multi-agency regional plan was developed some time ago.”
An NSPCC Wales spokesman said: “It should not be forgotten that every child sex offender has committed horrendous abuse and left severely damaged victims in their wake.”