Sex offenders in Tayside at record high with 407 now living in the region

The number of sex offenders living in Tayside has reached a 10-year high. There are now more than 400 registered sex offenders (RSO), a record high for the region.

New figures show there were 407 RSOS living in Tayside communities in 2020, a rise of 113 since 2010.

The number has climbed every year for the last decade, other than a slight drop in 2017.

A report from Tayside’s Mu l t i Agency Public Protection Arrangements ( Ma p p a ) team said a “significant proportion” of offenders were convicted for downloading indecent images of children.

It also revealed just onethird (35%) were subject to statutory supervision.

Elaine To r r a n c e , independent chairwoman of Mappa, said in a report that more staff have been employed, made up of police, councils, NHS Tayside and the Scottish Prison Service, to cope with the increased number of sex offenders.

She added that the vast majority of individuals do not go on to reoffend.

In the report for Dundee City Council’s community safety and public protection committee, she said: “The Mappa process becomes vitally important when the offender is released into the community and the management of risk is continually assessed and regularly reviewed at formal multi-agency meetings.

“It is recognised that no system can provide an absolute guarantee that an offender assessed as dangerous will not reoffend.

“However, last year more than 99% of Ma p p a offenders who were being supported and monitored did not commit a serious further offence and we will continue our efforts to reduce the risk posed by high risk of serious harm offenders in Tayside.”

Figures show most of Tayside’s sex offenders live in Dundee.

As of March 31 last year, there were 167 in Dundee – an increase of 11 on the previous year – 124 in Perth and Kinross, an increase of two on the year before, and 116 in Angus – up 14 on the previous year.

The report shows just 35% of sex offenders are subject to statutory supervision, either through a c o m m u n i ty p ay b a c k order or licence conditions.

Police Scotland did not respond when asked how the remaining 65% of offenders are monitored, or when asked what is being done to reduce sexual crimes in Tayside.

The report said regular training is given to staff who manage and monitor offenders.

It added: “The agencies are committed to working together to prevent people becoming victims of serious harm and to support and monitor offenders to manage the risk of further offending.

“Wh i l e it is never possible to totally eliminate risk entirely, all reasonable steps need to be taken to reduce the risk of serious harm to the public from known offenders.”