Newly published figures have shown that a stark increase in the number of sexual offenders re-offending once they are released from prison. 

The number of criminals who commit crimes within a year of leaving prison, up from 52 in 2004 to 76 in 2012. The lack of resources has led to numerous councils being unable to deal with the high number of sexual offenders released from prison, with many on the waiting list for therapy and treatment 

Calls For Change To System

Campaigners are calling for the Multi-Agency Protection Arrangements to be changed as a result of the increase in the number of re-offenders. Campaigner, Margaret-Ann Cummings, whose eight-year-old son Mark was murdered by a convicted paedophile believes that the soft approach taken is one of the major issues. 

She said: “It’s clear that there now has to be a fundamental rethink of how society deals with them.

“Jail sentences must be longer, treatment must be thorough and, when they are released back in the community, there must be full disclosure of who they are so communities and families can protect themselves.

According to the Scottish Government, of the 624 registered sex offenders released from prison 76 reoffended within the first year. Around 14 of the crimes committed were sex offences with 16 other serious crimes also being carried out.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Only 2.1% of these types of offenders went on to be reconvicted for further sexual crime in 2012-2013. The reconviction rate for sexual crime also decreased in the past year.

“The fact that the reconviction rate in Scotland is now at its lowest for 16 years is to be welcomed but clearly there is still further work to do to reduce these figures further.”

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