Worst sex offenders out of jail halfway into terms
SOME of Scotland’s worst sex criminals have been freed on parole wearing electronic tags after serving just half of their sentences.
Ministers are proposing the introduction of satellite tracking of sex offenders after years of concern about reoffending by rapists and paedophiles.
But the Mail has obtained figures showing that tagging of high-risk sex offenders released on parole, usually at the halfway point of their sentences, is already under way.
This kind of tagging – known as ‘radio frequency’ (RF) – sounds an alert if the criminal moves outside their homes beyond a strict curfew, for example in the evenings and overnight. It can also be used to give a warning sign if a sex offender strays towards a particular address from which they are banned, although it is relatively uncommon for this option to be used.
Satellite tracking – using the Global Positioning System (GPS) – is more effective as it can pinpoint the exact location of offenders and prohibit them from wider areas, for example play-parks, known as ‘geo-fencing’.
Figures from G4S, the company which runs the electronic monitoring contract for the Scottish Government, show that 18 high-risk sex offenders are out on RF tags for the duration of their parole.
The scheme shows the scale of concern among parole chiefs that the sex criminals could strike again – raising concern over whether they should have been freed from jail in the first place. But Scottish Tory justice spokesman Douglas Ross said: ‘If we are to let sex offenders back into our communities, we need to be sure that they do not pose any further threat.
‘Given the crimes they have committed, members of the public will be anxious about the possibility of these individuals being back on the streets.
‘Tracking the whereabouts of an offender through tagging can help ensure they don’t commit further crimes.’
Last week it emerged that prisoners could serve their entire sentences at home wearing electronic tags under plans for a Scandinavian-style justice system.
Ministers are examining schemes where criminals routinely avoid jail in favour of being electronically monitored at home or work.
Offenders agree a schedule with their caseworker and an alert sounds if they miss work or try to leave home. The moves bring Scandinavian justice closer to the idea of ‘replacing’ prison for all but the most serious criminals.
The plans emerged as the Scottish Government launched a consultation on an expansion of electronic tagging and the introduction of GPS.
The SNP is proposing a massive expansion of tagging and the use of GPS so more criminals including violent thugs, housebreakers and sex offenders are spared jail.
While the authorities cannot disclose information about the identities of paroled sex offenders, some deemed to be a high risk have been freed in recent months.
Norman Pender, 69, was freed from jail last month after serving just three years for sexually abusing two girls over a period of 11 years. The former Scottish rugby international has been released halfway through his sentence.
He was jailed for six years but let out after three.
Alexander Mortimer, 33, sexually assaulted two children who attended the childcare centre where he worked.
But he later had his eightyear jail term cut on appeal to five years and 11 months – and was freed last year after serving about four years.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘The monitoring of sex offenders is tougher than ever before, with greater police powers and a range of measures for high risk offenders – such as surveillance, electronic tagging, curfews, and restrictions on where they can go or who they can contact.
‘Those who breach the terms of a Sex Offender Notification Requirement are identified at the earliest opportunity, arrested and can face jail terms of up to five years.’
‘The public will be anxious’
‘Monitoring is now tougher’