§ Mr. Peter RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy on placing sex offenders selected for community service on schemes in the community.
§ Mr. MatesSentencing decisions in individual cases are matters for the courts. Where the courts impose a community service order for a sexual offence, or on an offender who has previously been convicted for sexual offences, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland places the offender on a scheme in which the risk to others and to the offender is minimised, and in which the offender can be closely supervised.