Police Sex Offenders’ Silence To Be Investigated

Grampian Police chiefs are to be investigated for refusing to reveal how many officers are currently monitoring sex offenders in Buchan, it emerged last night.

An information watchdog group confirmed it was preparing to launch an extensive probe to try and establish whether the force was right to withhold certain figures on convicted rapists and child molesters living in the north-east.

Aberdeenshire councillor Sam Coull used the Freedom of Information Act to ask for a breakdown of figures, after it was revealed just six officers were policing the activities of 200 sex offenders across the whole Grampian region.

But Grampian Police refused to release the numbers, claiming they could be used to identify registered offenders living in the area.

Scottish Information Commissioner Kevin Dunion has now agreed to carry out an investigation into the police decision, but warned it could take more than six months to reach a conclusion.

Mr Coull said last night: “I’m pleased that they are taking on the investigation, but I’m a bit taken aback by how long this could take.

“This process is very unlikely to take less than four months, which is a long time to be left without answers to what is a very important issue.

“The Buchan area is home to Peterhead Prison, Scotland’s biggest sex offender unit.

“If these inmates are staying in the area once they’re released, we need to know how much of a strain this is putting on our police resources.”

Peterhead Prison is home to 300 sex offenders. Mr Coull believes it is a risk to public safety and has called for it be demolished and rebuilt away from Peterhead.

There are currently 63 registered sex offenders living in north Aberdeenshire.

Grampian Police argued that releasing further information could, based on the experiences of other police forces in the UK, lead to the identification of offenders.

They said it could cause speculation within a community that certain people were convicted rapists or child molestors.

And the force said it could substantially prejudice the police’s power to prevent and detect crime.

A spokesman said last night: “Grampian Police can confirm that the Scottish information commissioner is carrying out an investigation under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 into the force’s refusal to disclose information requested by councillor Sam Coull.” He declined to say any more about the case.

Officers acting for Mr Dunion will now approach Grampian Police and ask for their comments on the investigation. The force will also be asked to forward all information relating to the case.

A spokeswoman for the commissioner said: “The application relating to sex offenders in Buchan is valid in terms of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. An investigation will be carried out, although it may take some time, particularly if a large amount of information has been withheld from Grampian Police or the information is of a complex nature.” Details of the probe and any subsequent decision will be posted on the commissioner’s website.