Government to review management of sex offenders

The government has today announced a review into the management of sex offenders.

News of the review, which will be led by the Chief Inspector of the Criminal Justice System Kit Chivers, was announced this morning after the court passed sentence on Trevor Hamilton, who murdered Strabane pensioner Attracta Harron in 2003.

The review will look at the internal processes within the PSNI, Probation Board and Prison Services for the management of sex offenders as well as the independent serious case review carried out into the management of Trevor Hamilton.

Commenting on the review, Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson said: “It must be remembered that cases such as this are very rare. However, there is no room for complacency and all the agencies concerned, the PSNI, Probation Service and Northern Ireland Prison Service, must strive to reduce risks to the absolute minimum.

“The agencies involved in the management of Trevor Hamilton have already learned lessons from this tragic case and will continue to do so.

“They have carried out their own internal investigations and made some 39 recommendations. To date, 20 of these have been fully implemented, with the remainder in the process of being implemented."

Mr Hanson continued: “An independent serious case review into Trevor Hamilton indicates that the management of sexual offenders process, known as MASRAM, is robust and makes a significant contribution to public protection. However, the report does indicate a number of areas where agencies could do better.

“I have met with the agencies and while I have every confidence that police, probation and prisons will continue to strengthen their working practices, it is vital that the public have absolute confidence in this process.

“That is why I have invited Kit Chivers to review the agencies’ implementation of the recommendations of both their own internal reviews and the independent serious case review."

The Criminal Justice Minister added that he is to look to the Chief Inspector to provide assurance to Government and the public that every effort is being made by agencies to ensure that where failings have been identified and recommendations for improvements made, that these are being fully implemented in a consistent and verifiable manner.

He also confirmed that he is to bring forward legislation to deal with the issue of dangerous violent offenders and is currently considering the responses to a Review of the Sentencing Framework in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson said: “In order to support the multi-agency arrangements for managing sex offenders I will be introducing legislation shortly to deal with the management of other dangerous violent but non sexual offenders.

“Last year I also commissioned a Review of the Sentencing Framework in Northern Ireland and engaged in extended public consultation on a wide range of possible sentencing disposals.

“Central to that was consideration of the issue of protection of the public from dangerous violent and sexual offenders."

The Minister concluded: “I will shortly be considering a range of sentencing options, including indeterminate sentences, before determining which measures will provide for the most comprehensive and effective framework for Northern Ireland.”

(EF)