1 week Ago By Beth Franklin
The Tories said the SNP Government has refused to close the loophole which has allowed 506 sex offenders to change their names over the 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years. The data, obtained by the party from Police Scotland under freedom of information laws, shows 263 sex offenders changed their name in the 2023-24 financial year, and 243 in the following year. Shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said ministers are allowing offenders to exploit the law to their advantage, keeping their true identities hidden from the public.
Kerr said: “It’s indefensible that the SNP continue to allow hundreds of sex offenders to play the system by changing their name every year. “The public are being kept in the dark about the true identity of dangerous predators, which is putting them at greater risk. “Those placed on the sex offenders register are there for good reason, yet our calls for this dangerous name-change loophole to be closed have been repeatedly and inexplicably ignored by SNP ministers.
“These rising figures are testament to the SNP’s relentless pandering to criminals at the expense of victims. “It is vital that SNP ministers apply some common sense and urgently scrap this practice. “They must do more to support police in monitoring these offenders.
” In its response to the FOI request from the Conservatives, Police Scotland said: “In Scotland, Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa) provide a comprehensive response to a complex issue, using professional assessment and management to properly target resources at those who pose a risk to the public. “Police Scotland works in partnership with a number of agencies through Mappa to ensure that all registered sex offenders are robustly managed within the community. “While we can never eliminate risk entirely, we want to reassure communities that all reasonable steps are being taken to protect them.
” A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Sex offender notification requirements apply to the individual irrespective of what name they use, and where a registered sex offender changes name they must let the police know within three days or they breach their notification requirements. “The UK Crime and Policing Bill includes proposals around sex offenders and name change which Scottish ministers are considering extending to Scotland.” Police Scotland have been approached for comment.
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