§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has to propose a change to the law so that people convicted abroad of crime with a possible sexual element or motivation can be monitored on the Sex Offenders Register on their return to the United Kingdom; [39498]
(2) what plans he has to enable the (a) police and (b) Probation Service to monitor and control the activities of people who have been convicted abroad of offences including violence to children with possible sexual motivation; [39499]
(3) what notice can be given to a community when a convicted child murderer returns to the UK to live in that community after serving their sentence abroad; [39500]
(4) how many people who have been convicted of an offence abroad involving a sexual element have returned to live in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years for which records exist; and what mechanisms are in place to monitor and control their behaviour on their return to the United Kingdom; [39496]
(5) what powers exist to protect a community when a person who has been convicted abroad of child murder, with the strong possibility of a sexual motive in that crime, returns on release from prison to that community. [39494]
§ Beverley HughesThe Home Office does not keep records of those convicted of offences abroad, including those involving a sexual element, who have returned to the United Kingdom. We are therefore unable to supply figures for the last three years.
Mechanisms already exist for the monitoring and controlling of dangerous offenders who come to the UK after having been convicted of an offence abroad.
The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 imposed in relation to any area, a statutory duty on the chief officer of police and the local probation board to establish arrangements for assessing and managing the risks posed by persons who may cause serious harm to the public. This would include those convicted abroad.
1104WIf someone falls into this category, for example if a person who has been convicted of a violent offence with a sexual element abroad returns to this country, these multi-agency public protection arrangements will come into play.
Multi-agency public protection arrangements provide for the risk assessment of all potentially dangerous offenders. Following this a management plan is formulated according to the level and nature of risk that the offender poses. Typically, this would have components of monitoring, interventions designed to reduce re-offending and steps necessary to protect victims or potential victims. After the risk assessment, if it is in the interest of public protection, the police may also disclose information about the offender to relevant members of the community. Social Service departments who are the lead agency for child protection are members of the multi-agency public protection panels.
The review to the Sex Offenders Act 1997 looked at requiring those convicted of sex offences abroad to register on their arrival in the UK. The Government have asked for consultation and responses are currently being analysed to decide what appropriate action, if any, the Government should take.