Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Scotland: national overview report 2023-24

Appendix C: MAPPA National Data

This Appendix outlines patterns in information on Registered Sex Offenders (RSOs) extracted from the ViSOR database on 31 March of each year. This provides a snapshot at a point in time.

On 31 March 2024, there were 6,878 RSOs in Scotland who were managed in custody or in the community. The total number of RSOs has increased by 7% compared with 2023 when there were 6,420 recorded.

On 31 March 2024, 72% of RSOs (4,948 RSOs) were being managed in the community, with the vast majority of these (4,848 RSOs) being managed at the lowest MAPPA management level, Level 1. The remaining RSOs (95) were being managed at level 2. On that date there were no RSOs being managed at level 3.

In 2023-2024, 94% of RSOs complied with their notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, compared to 93% in 2022-23. The proportion of RSOs who failed to comply with their notification requirements has decreased slightly from 7% to 6%. With the exception of 2022-23, the breach rate for the previous seven years has consistently been around 5%-6%.

Sex Offender Notification Requirements (SONR) are robustly policed so that those who breach their terms are identified at the earliest opportunity. The RSO can receive a maximum penalty of 5 years' imprisonment for failing to comply with notification requirements.

The National Statistics on Recorded Crime in Scotland, 2023-24 published in June 2024, illustrated that sexual crimes accounted for 5% of all crimes recorded in Scotland in 2023-24, as was the case in 2022-23. The report stated that sexual crimes recorded by the police in Scotland decreased by 1% from 14,602 in 2022-23 to 14,484 in 2023-24.

Despite this decrease, sexual crimes have been on a long-term upward trend and levels are now at the third highest recorded since 1971. A number of legislative and procedural changes will have had an impact on the trend of recorded sexual crimes since this time. In addition to these changes, the issue of historical reporting of sexual crime also continues to play a role in the latest statistics. As detailed in the report, information from Police Scotland suggests that almost a quarter (24%) of sexual crimes in 2023-24 were recorded at least one year after they occurred. The increase in sexual cyber-crimes has also had an impact on long term trends. According to the report, it is estimated that the volume of sexual crimes that were cyber-crimes has increased from 1,100 in 2013-14 to 4,320 in 2023-24.

The proportion of RSOs who have been convicted of a further Group 1 or 2 crime has increased in the last year - 3.7% (254) in 2023-24 compared to 2.2% (139) in 2022-23. The increase in these convictions can in part be attributed to the recoding of offences, resulting in a number of new additions to the Group 1 list for the reporting period, whereby common assault and stalking are newly included as Group 1 offences. These convictions also include offences detected as a result of proactive management and effective policing by the partner agencies. When individuals managed under MAPPA commit further serious offences, the SCR process examines the MAPPA policies and processes in place for the management of the individual. It identifies areas of learning and good practice and so contributes to continuous learning to improve future policy and practice.

Wanted and Missing Registered Sex Offenders:

A Missing person is defined as anyone whose whereabouts is unknown and:

• where the circumstances are out of character; or
• the context suggests the person may be subject to crime; or
• the person is at risk of harm to themselves or another.

Wanted Registered Sex Offenders are defined as those who are subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and who have a live warrant in force.

On 31 March 2024, Police Scotland reported that 12 RSOs were wanted and 1 RSO was reported missing. The latest update from Police Scotland provides that the 12 RSOs who were wanted were subsequently assessed as having left the United Kingdom with no indication that they had returned. As of 31 October 2024, according to Police Scotland website there were no missing RSOs recorded.

Police Scotland treat all missing and wanted RSOs with the utmost seriousness and carry out thorough enquiries to trace their whereabouts and to re-establish the management required to protect the public. On all occasions a Senior Investigating Officer of a rank no less than Inspector will be appointed to lead these investigations. Up to date figures are available via the Police Scotland Website.