New data released shows number of sex offenders in Suffolk

Information released from the government shows the number of registered sex offenders living in each county, and how that number has changed over the past 12 months.

In Suffolk, the number for the year 2022/23 is 940. This is a rise of 3.3% from the year before and equates to 137 per 100,000 people.

Overall, the total number is lower than the equivalent figures for our neighbouring counties. In Cambridgeshire, there are 987, a rise of 5.22% from the previous year.

Essex and Norfolk both saw a drop in figures. In Norfolk, there are 1,184, a decrease of 0.34%, and in Essex there are 1,848, a decrease of 1.92%.

In terms of the rest of the country, the East of England sits somewhere in the middle. The area which saw the biggest increase was Lancashire at 19.42%, and the one with the biggest drop in registered sex offenders was Humberside at 20.67%.

Laura Polley is a criminology lecturer at the University of Suffolk, who has also been involved in the Reclaim These Streets movement with Suffolk Rape Crisis, which was set up in the aftermath of the murder of Sarah Everard in 2021 to fight for safer public spaces for women.

Looking at the data, she said that Suffolk does not appear to have seen a significant rise in the number of offenders.

“Some of that increase will be down to people getting heavier sentences,” she explained. “I think that’s testament to the fact that these processes do work – they do effectively manage people.”

“We need to view this slight increase in Suffolk in line with a bigger agenda, that of taking violence against women and girls seriously.”

Laura Polley is a criminology lecturer at the University of Suffolk. Image: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

In December, Adiley Pires was sentenced to 21 years after being convicted of two offences of attempted rape, one of sexual assault and one of common assault, all occurring in Ipswich and against two separate victims.

Miss Polley continued: “We’re seeing a shift in narrative whereby violence against women and girls is being taken more seriously, and as such, yes we have a slightly higher rate of registered sex offenders in Suffolk this year, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have more sex offenders; it means that people who are convicted are receiving longer and more serious sentences.”

A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said: “The management of registered sex offenders in the community is one of the highest priorities for Suffolk police and involves a multi-agency approach between the probation service, prisons, children and young people’s services, health and housing providers, as well as other bodies depending on need.

“The activities of these agencies are organised through statutory arrangements referred to as MAPPA (multi agency public protection arrangements).

“Suffolk police keep thorough records on registered sex offenders (RSOs) and the day-to-day management of RSOs in Suffolk is completed by a dedicated team who monitor, risk assess and enforce the law where required.

“Where an RSO has committed additional offences, or not acted in accordance with strict requirements imposed on their conduct, they are subject to robust action which can include arrest and, where appropriate, a return or recall to prison”.

“It is the responsibility of employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure that they utilise robust measures for checking an individual’s identity when an application for employment is submitted. Each police organisation has a responsibility to cooperate with the DBS and provide information that is relevant to the application based on the names given to them.

“If the police were aware of an RSO gaining employment in breach of their restrictions to do so, then immediate action would be taken to notify the employer and safeguard any children or young people involved.”