Registered sex offenders in Lincolnshire up by nearly 500

Registered Sex Offenders are managed in the community by Risk Management Officers who are part of the Public Protection Unit.

Lincolnshire has seen a rise from 498 registered sex offenders living in the community at the end of 2010 to the current figure of 705.

This is an increase of 41.5%.

There are several factors linked to this rise, namely an increase in our on-line and child sexual exploitation investigations and a growth in the number of people we are now prosecuting for indecent images and grooming offences.

Referrals from outside forces and the National Crime Agency (CEOP) have also increased.  Across the country there has been an increase in reporting sexual offences, both current and historic, similarly  Lincolnshire has also seen a rise in this area of reporting.

Head of Public Protection Unit, Detective Superintendent Richard  Hatton, said: “The force has increased the number of staff we have working on these investigations, the outcome is more offenders being brought to the notice of the courts and being made subject to the notification requirements.

We have increased the number of risk management officers in line with the increase of registered sex offenders.  This means registered sex offenders and the risk they pose are managed effectively within our communities”