Report: PSNI 'must manage sex offender risk better'

More needs to be done by the police and prison services in the North to improve arrangements for the management of the risks posed by sex offenders, according to a report published today.

However Criminal Justice Inspection (CJI) in the North said improvements had been made since they published a report and made recommendations last year after the conviction of Trevor Hamilton for the murder of librarian Attracta Harron in Co Tyrone just months after he was released on parole after serving a sentence for a brutal rape.

Kit Chivers, chief inspector of the CJI, said “tangible progress” had been made since its review following the murder of Mrs Harron.

But he called for additional training for police officers and prison staff in handling sex offenders.

The Government recently published draft legislation due to be enacted in the Spring which will end automatic 50% remission and could lead to violent criminals who pose a danger to the public never being released.

In a series of recommendations the CJI said it should be consulted on the draft guidance that will accompany new legislation to ensure appropriate levels of external scrutiny are built into the process before it is finalised.

It also recommended:

:: The PSNI should set targets in local Policing Plans for their work in managing the risks posed by sex offenders for whom they are the designated risk manager.

:: PSNI random ’dip sampling’ of case files should be extended to lower level managers and also be adopted by the prison service in the North.

:: Both the PSNI and NIPS should begin to promote the concept of a case management approach, informed by the Probation Board, pending the establishment of a co-located team.

Mr Chivers said: “The PSNI has improved its sex offender risk management. Specific targets relating to the police investigation of sexual offences and their contribution to the process of managing sex offenders by regularly reviewing high risk cases are included in the 2007-10 Northern Ireland Policing Plan.”