Port of Tilbury-Police Constable

[Fedster + 1,307]

Backlog having 'serious impact' on sex offender management, HMIs warn.

 

Date - 30th August 2018
By - Sophie Garrod - Police Oracle

5 Comments

 

Merseyside Police’s sex offender unit is failing to visit high-risk sex offenders as often as it should, according to a report published today by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The force had a backlog of almost 100 overdue visits to registered sex offenders, HMIs found.

It cites heavy workloads and poor communication with neighbourhood police officers as reasons why it is struggling to manage.

The report concludes that despite showing a strong commitment to child protection and safeguarding, the inspection showed much more work is needed to improve its work surrounding vulnerable children.

HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr said: “I am encouraged to see that Merseyside Police is committed to doing more to keep children safe. When the force’s own case audit showed failings in how it responds to child protection incidents, it took quick and decisive action to tackle the problem head-on. This shows me that safeguarding children is a real priority for the service.

“But there is still plenty of room for improvement. At the time of our inspection, Merseyside Police’s sex offender unit was seriously overstretched. Offender managers were individually responsible for up to 100 registered sex offenders - double what we would like to see.

“This had a serious impact on the force’s ability to manage sex offenders. Too often, offender managers were playing catch-up and couldn't prioritise preventative work. Neighbourhood policing teams were often unaware of sex offenders living in their communities. And it was particularly concerning to see that the force’s records show a backlog of 98 overdue visits to registered sex offenders.

“This is an area that requires real improvement before I can be confident that Merseyside Police is meeting its duty to keep children safe.”

On a positive note, HMIs found the force carries out investigations to a good standard and uses police protection powers appropriately to safeguard children.

It was also praised for its effective partnership arrangements with local authorities, extensive welfare support for members of the workforce dealing with child protection cases and has renewed its efforts to improve the awareness of staff about vulnerability and their safeguarding responsibilities.

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[Radman + 2,163]

Why can't we empower the probation service or local autority safe guarding units to undertake this follow up work?

Just why does everything have to fall down to the county police? 

[SimonT + 1,185]

I would imagine that probation are either equally under resourced or farmed out to a private company who wouldn't be interested in taking on more risk. 

We can be more effective and efficient but eventually someone in power needs to say its tough. We haven't enough staff so you can lump it. 

[Radman + 2,163]

10 minutes ago, SimonT said:

I would imagine that probation are either equally under resourced or farmed out to a private company who wouldn't be interested in taking on more risk. 

We can be more effective and efficient but eventually someone in power needs to say its tough. We haven't enough staff so you can lump it. 

I don't see how this is a core policing responsibility.

We don't handle child protection follow ups do we? The council do.

Why is function even down to the local police? 

[Mac7 808]

I’ve carried out visits to sex offenders. What struck me instantly is “why.” I could see no value in sitting in someone’s living room having a meaningless chat to someone who just says the right things in your presence. There was never any hostility but it was glaringly obvious from the start that it was a box ticking exercise.

 

The visits provide zero insight into the persons ability to re offend or if they are abiding by conditions imposed by courts e.g accessing the Internet. I recall chatting to an offender in his kitchen who had committed the majority of his offences online and thinking he could have anything in this house and I have no legal basis to search or demand to see anything.

 

They really are pointless. Is there any mention in the report of what Merseyside are doing proactively to target sex offenders? There must be a balance. Being reactive, live the majority of policing at the moment, is not going to solve anything. There must be a balance.

 

No doubt the HMIC have recognised that this, along with most areas of policing are under resourced with ever increasing work load due to cuts.....Nah, they’d rather just say they’re failing. Helpful.

 

 

[Radman + 2,163]

On 31/08/2018 at 07:51, Mac7 said:

I’ve carried out visits to sex offenders. What struck me instantly is “why.” I could see no value in sitting in someone’s living room having a meaningless chat to someone who just says the right things in your presence. There was never any hostility but it was glaringly obvious from the start that it was a box ticking exercise.

 

The visits provide zero insight into the persons ability to re offend or if they are abiding by conditions imposed by courts e.g accessing the Internet. I recall chatting to an offender in his kitchen who had committed the majority of his offences online and thinking he could have anything in this house and I have no legal basis to search or demand to see anything.

 

They really are pointless. Is there any mention in the report of what Merseyside are doing proactively to target sex offenders? There must be a balance. Being reactive, live the majority of policing at the moment, is not going to solve anything. There must be a balance.

 

No doubt the HMIC have recognised that this, along with most areas of policing are under resourced with ever increasing work load due to cuts.....Nah, they’d rather just say they’re failing. Helpful.

 

 

Again I don't see at all how this is in anyway a police officers role... This for me falls clearly under the local authorities services and not the scope of the police.

Does anyone else not think the same here? It seems like a massive waste of resources.

[Reasonable Man + 1,231]

Again I don't see at all how this is in anyway a police officers role... This for me falls clearly under the local authorities services and not the scope of the police.
Does anyone else not think the same here? It seems like a massive waste of resources.

It is because the law says it is. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 authorise the police (not other bodies) to make the visits. Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 says persons subject to registration must notify the police (not other bodies) of various things.
The local authority has no access to the list of people in their area subject to registration.
So the legislatures have determined at several points in making legislation that it is a police officer’s role.

[Chaos + 151]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=274218073218912&id=1963564110599089

 

Why not empower volunteers like these guys to keep tabs on them... They seem to want to be doing it anyway...

 

(Yes I know, it will never happen)

 

 

[Radman + 2,163]

13 hours ago, Reasonable Man said:

It is because the law says it is. The Criminal Justice Act 2003 authorise the police (not other bodies) to make the visits. Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 says persons subject to registration must notify the police (not other bodies) of various things.
The local authority has no access to the list of people in their area subject to registration.
So the legislatures have determined at several points in making legislation that it is a police officer’s role.

Again why should this be a role the police have to undertake?

We don't follow up child protection cases, we don't follow up vulnerable adults - this should be reformed and placed in LA responsibility or some other body. 

Cops aren't social workers.

I note the year this was introduced, early 2000s right when the police service was taking on remits and roles willingly from everything and anything... 

Just what do the police do? What is their remit? How should they best protect the public?

 Duties like this best suited for Social Workers shouldn't be in the primary remit of policing.

It needs reforming.

Edited September 4, 2018 by Radman