The PSNI recognise the very real and genuine concerns regarding the protection of young children from sex offenders. Specific measures include the ‘Multi-agency Sex Offender Risk Assessment and Risk Management’ process, which involves PSNI, Northern Ireland Probation Service, Northern Ireland Prison Service, Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and representatives from the voluntary sector. The primary purpose of the agencies’ work is to help protect the public from harm by reducing the opportunities available for offenders to gain access to victims, and also to reduce their propensity to offend at all.
Effective collaboration is also incorporated into the day-to-day work of police officers and social workers, to ensure that the welfare of children remains paramount. These measures are enshrined in the ‘Protocol for Joint Investigation by Social Workers and Police Officers’ and in the Area Child Protection Policy and Procedures documents.
Police are also actively involved in various other campaigns around this issue, for example, ‘Stop-it-Now’—a campaign which encourages early recognition and responses to the problem, and ‘Leisurewatch’ (currently piloting in three areas) whereby leisure staff are trained to be observant and aware of ways to minimise the risks from sex offenders.
The PSNI are making active and ongoing efforts to protect children throughout Northern Ireland from sex offenders both on a strategic and on a practical level.