News

Intervention programmes for sex offenders are to be made available throughout Scotland as one measure in a package of proposals announced by the Scottish executive.

Also included in the proposals is the issuing of a national protocol outlining best practice in risk assessment, which will be binding for all agencies working with sex offenders.

Local authorities and other key agencies such as the police, prison service and health are required to improve their existing liaison arrangements to enhance transfer of information.

Jim Wallace, justice minister, said: "Sharing and improving the information available to those who work with this group of offenders will ensure the right systems are in place to provide effective monitoring."

The new measures, are a response to 'Reducing the Risk: Improving the Response to Sex Offending', a report published last year by the expert panel on sex offending chaired by Lady Cosgrove. The proposals are in addition to those already contained in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill, including a new sentence (Order for Lifelong Restriction) for control of any offender considered by the court to be high risk, and the creation of a national risk management authority.

Wallace said: "These proposals will make sure we provide much enhanced protection for the public from sex offenders."