§ Sir Raymond PowellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the review of measures to deal with protection of communities from known sex offenders to be completed. [38818]
§ Mr. MichaelWe are working on a range of measures to protect the public from further offending by convicted sex offenders. We have implemented the automatic life sentence in the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 for second time serious sexual offences. We have implemented the requirement in the Sex Offenders Act 1997 for convicted sex offenders to register with the police. The Crime and Disorder Bill provides for extended supervision of sex offenders by the Probation Service after release from prison, and for the courts to make a sex offender order, breach of which will be punishable by imprisonment. We shall also consider the need for further legislative changes in the context of policy developments in the management of offenders with severe personality disorder.