Abstract
This article analyses the use of criminal justice measures aimed at the prevention of sexual offending across England and Wales. Specifically, it focuses on measures such as the ‘sex offenders register’ and sexual offences prevention orders (SOPOs) and the use of sanctions for their breach. Following a discussion of the apparent tensions between individual rights and public protection measures we present an original analysis of data collated from Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) area reports over a nine-year period. Our analysis reveals considerable variation between areas in both the risk-level allocation of cases, the imposition of SOPOs and sanctions for non-compliance with MAPPA. We argue that these disparities raise issues concerning both the rights and autonomy of those subjected to public protection measures and highlight the need for further detailed research into MAPPA practices.
Highlights
Over the last two decades a raft of punitive legislation intended to manage the risks posed by ‘known sexual offenders’ has developed
Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, for example, introduced a range of new civil preventative orders. These included: the sexual offences prevention order (SOPO), which replaced the sex offender order; restraining orders; foreign travel orders, which impose travel restrictions on registered sex offenders (RSOs4); and risk of sexual harm orders, which can be imposed on persons who have no convictions of any kind (Shute 2004)
By not providing the actual numbers of RSOs in each area we avoid ‘sensationalising’ the data since it is important to bear in mind that the actual number of RSOs in any given area is very small in relation to the size of the general population
Summary
Over the last two decades a raft of punitive legislation intended to manage the risks posed by ‘known sexual offenders’ has developed. By not providing the actual numbers of RSOs in each area (or numbers of SOPOs imposed) we avoid ‘sensationalising’ the data since it is important to bear in mind that the actual number of RSOs in any given area is very small in relation to the size of the general population Whilst these standardised figures, or rates, remain mostly descriptive, they allow for the comparison of inter-area consistency (and fairness) in the use of preventative justice measures aimed at reducing sexual offending. These data show trends across all 42 MAPPA areas in England and Wales combined. These are presented as the nine-year mean rates based on the end of year calculations of those rates from 2004/5 to 2012/13
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