New measures for dealing with sex offenders to be introduced

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.”