PSNI Needs To Do More To Counter Sex Offender Risk

Despite this conclusion, the Criminal Justice Inspection (CJI) in the North did admit that improvements had been made since their last report in 2006 and that progress was made towards fulfiling many of their recommendations.

The previous report was issued in the wake of Trevor Hamilton's conviction for the murder of librarian Attracta Harron in Co. Tyrone just months after he had been released on parole after serving a sentence for a brutal rape.

Kit Chivers, the chief inspector of the CJI, admitted that "tangible progress" had been made since its review following the murder of Mrs Harron, but he insisted that additional training was needed for police officers and prison staff in handling sex offenders.

Recently-published draft legislation, due to be enacted early next year will end the automatic 50% remission and could result in violent criminals who pose a danger to the public never being released.

The CJI also recommended that it should be consulted on the draft guidance that will accompany any new legislation in order to ensure that appropriate levels of oversight are built into the process before it is finalised.

The latest report also recommended that 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.

The PSNI should also extend random 'dip sampling' of case files to lower level managers and the practice should also be adopted by the prison service in the North.

The CJI also called for both the PSNI and prison service to promote the concept of "a case management approach", informed by the Probation Board, until a co-lated team is established.

Commenting on the new report, 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."