Storm over shock rise in repeat sex crimes

A political row broke out last night after the Scottish Government rejected claims that the number of sex offenders in Scotland who go on to be charged with another sexual or violent offence has increased five-fold in a year.

New figures revealed more than 40 sex offenders were charged with another sexual or violent crime last year – an increase from nine the previous year, according to Labour and the Tories.

The government said the comparison was “simply not valid” and accused opposition parties of failing to compare like with like.

Last year’s figures were disclosed in the annual reports of Scotland’s eight regional community justice authorities, which bring together police, councils and other agencies to share information about sex offenders.

A total of 2,967 registered sex offenders were living in Scottish communities and a further 798 were in jail.

Of the 2,967 offenders, 44 were charged with a further sexual or violent offence.

In Tayside, there were 298 offenders last year, and the number who went on to be convicted again increased from three to four.

The figures show 167 offenders in the Northern Constabulary area and 272 in Grampian in 2008-09. The number convicted for further serious or violent offences went up from one to two in the Northern area and remained at one in Grampian.

Across Scotland, 2,825 offenders complied with notification requirements of the sex offenders register. There were 136 breaches, 47 fewer than the previous year.

Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken called for stricter monitoring of sex offenders.

He said: “These figures are worrying. It is well-known that sex offenders have a propensity to reoffend.

“Those being released under licence should be monitored very closely, and those convicted of this type of offence should be released on licence only in exceptional circumstances.”

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill claimed the reports show the effectiveness of joint working and demonstrate that when sex offenders breach their conditions, they are dealt with swiftly.

He said: “It is encouraging that the reoffending rate last year equates to one in 68 when the general reoffending rate is far higher.

“Dealing with the complex problem of sex offending requires dedicated professionals working together to take difficult decisions in the interests of public protection.”

Paul Martin, Labour community safety spokesman, said: “The increase in the numbers caught reoffending is very worrying and action needs to be taken to tighten procedures and assessments.

“Rather than pledging to do better we have the unedifying spectacle of the justice secretary pointing out that other offenders reoffend more than sex criminals.”

Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown said the figures were only the “tip of the iceberg” when all sex crimes are included.

The government said the previous year’s figure included only the more serious categories of offender. A spokes-man said this year’s figures also reflected a broader definition of serious reoffending to match national crime-recording standards.