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Offender Management Unit

Sex Offender Notification Scheme

Since 1997 there have been a number of changes to the law that apply to offenders subject to the notification scheme and registration scheme for sex offenders.

Registered sex offenders must notify of any changes to his/her name and address within three days of the change taking place. This must be done in person at a police station designated in law as a place where registrations can take place. These are called prescribed police stations and in Dumfries and Galloway the designated stations are

• Dumfries
• Stranraer
• Annan
• Lockerbie
• Castle Douglas

If registered sex offenders stay at an address other than his/her registered address then the police must be notified if they stay at the other address for a total of seven days or more in any twelve month period. Again attendance at a designated station is required within three days of the seven day total being achieved.

Every 12 months registered sex offenders must attend in person at a prescribed police station and re-register his/her name and address, even if they have not changed.

If a registered sex offender has been in prison (for any offence) or hospital as a result of a court order (for any offence) he/she must attend at a prescribed police station within three days of release. This is to notify the police of his/her release and offenders must provide a current address even if it has not changed.

If sex offenders leave the United Kingdom for a period of three days or more he/she must attend in person at a prescribed police station within seven days prior to departure. If the traveling takes place at short notice, then the police must be notified at least 24 hours prior to departure. The police should be given copy of travel plans including departure date, where he/she is traveling from, the name of the carrier, destination points and the details of where he/she will be residing on the first night out with the United Kingdom .

Each time registered sex offenders attend a prescribed police station to make notification, the police have the power to take his/her fingerprints and photograph for the purposes of identification.

The police have the power to take a number of samples which can be kept for comparison at a later date. These include fingerprints, palm prints, photographs and a DNA sample. The DNA would normally be obtained through a pain free mouth swab.

Registered sex offenders are required to provide his/her national insurance number.

Registered sex offenders are required to provide details of any passports held by them. Details include name and date of birth, passport number, issuing authority, date of issue and expiry date.

From April 2007, registered sex offenders are required to provide the police with any bank and credit card accounts, debit cards and credit cards held. This includes joint bank accounts if you are self employed (either as a sole trader business or a partnership). Details required include the name of the bank, credit card company or building society, account number, sort code, validation number and card expiry date.

The police have the power to apply to a Sheriff for a warrant to force entry and search the registered home address of sex offenders. This will be done if entry is refused on at least two occasions to officers who are intending to carry out a risk assessment of the likelihood of an offender committing a further sexual offence.

The listed requirements are legally binding and failure of registered sex offenders to comply with the requirements can result in arrest, a fine and/or imprisonment.