The number of registered sex offenders in England and Wales has reached an all-time high, nearly doubling in the past 13 years. As of March 2024, there were 70,052 registered sex offenders, equivalent to one for every 763 people aged 10 and over. This represents a 2.5% increase from the previous year, and an 85% increase since 2010/11 when the police force level figures were first published.
Managed by Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) to prevent further offences, sex offenders are mandated to notify the police of specific details, with further notification required for any changes, commonly referred to as ‘being on the sex offenders register’.
Certain areas have a notably higher concentration of sex offenders relative to their population. For instance, County Durham had 196 category 1 offenders per 100,000 population in 2023/24, followed by Gwent with 188, and Teesside with 178.
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It is essential for communities to have access to this information as it can influence safety measures and awareness.