Scotland’s freedom of information watchdog has been called to investigate claims that full details of sex offenders living in the north-east are being kept secret by police, jail and court authorities.
Freedom of Information Commissioner Kevin Dunion is being urged to find out why a two-year campaign to discover how many convicted child molesters and rapists have settled in Buchan after being released from Peterhead Prison has drawn a blank.
Local councillor Sam Coull believes more and more freed inmates are settling in the north-east, putting the safety of locals at risk.
He has approached various authorities using the Freedom of Information Act, including the Scottish Government, the Crown Office, the procurator fiscal service and Grampian Police.
Scottish Prison Service (SPS) staff at Peterhead told him only one offender had been released into Aberdeenshire since April 2006 and so far he had not returned to prison, but they were unable to give details on inmates who are originally from other parts of the country, who are taken back to their local jails before being released.
A reply from the prison service’s head office said it would be too expensive, around £600, to investigate Mr Coull’s query.
SPS bosses did however reveal that of the 300 inmates in Peterhead, 24 have previously served time at the jail.
Veteran Liberal Democrat councillor Mr Coull said his question still remains unanswered and has now turned to Mr Dunion for help in getting more answers.
Mr Coull said: “It seems as though no one knows who was going through the prison system.
“Surely the prison service must know. After all, when even the smallest hotel carries a guest book, a prison has to keep a record of who will be staying with them.
“Similarly, a parole board would need to have background information on past criminality in order to make decisions about release.”
It is known that nearly 800 sex crimes have been investigated by police in Aberdeenshire over the last three years, with almost 40% of them unsolved.
Mr Dunion is expected to reply to Mr Coull after considering his complaint.