Guernsey Press

Names could stay on new sex offenders' register for decades

SEX offenders could be put on a new register for decades under a new law, which comes into force on 1st July.

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Senior probation officer for the multi-agency public protection unit, Gemma Lockwood, pictured, said the new legislation was building on the extensive controls already in place, but would also help deal with criminals coming from outside the island and allow the force to gather more information about offenders.

'We've historically worked on that with good practice, so various agencies, like the police and prison, got together to share information and look at risk,' she said.

The law will cover those convicted of a number of crimes, including rape, indecent exposure, incest and abducting a child for immoral purposes.

Under the current system, the criminals are kept under supervision – both at the prison and after they are released – to help deal with their offending behaviour and to monitor them. But that is only for limited period.

With the new law, someone cautioned would need to be on the register for a minimum of two years, and someone convicted would have to be on it for at least five years.

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