Number on Sex Offenders Register sees big increase

Thursday 24 November 2016

The number of registered sex offenders in Jersey has increased by 67% since January 2015 - but this is not automatically a "cause for concern," according to Jersey Action Against Rape, who believe it is probably due to victims being more confident to report what's happened to them.

The figures have been published under the Freedom of Information law, and show that there are 88 registered sex offenders living in Jersey at present – one for every 1,167 citizens, based on the most recent population estimate of 102,700.

This is a marked increase from January 2015, when there were 54, and a jump of over a quarter since October last year when the total stood at 69.

Of these, the majority held convictions for contact offending, while 34 were sentenced for possessing indecent images of children. Three people were convicted for both offences.

Jersey’s Sex Offenders Law (2010) came into force in 2011, and requires known offenders to notify police of their address and any plans to leave the Island. All but two of the 88 offenders sentenced under this law were male.

Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull told Express: "We are seeing a longer term upward trend of reported sexual offending - this will be due to a number of reasons, including proactive campaigns in respect of rape and CSE [child sexual exploitation] etc. Fundamentally though, we believe this demonstrates continued trust and confidence by victims in services and the Criminal Justice Service.

“This in turn leads to increased enforcement and prosecutions, which leads to increased registration at point of conviction – since 2010 when Sex Offenders Law was enacted in Jersey.

“Registered Sex Offenders currently have to go back to court to seek de-registration – currently we are seeing just a small minority pursue that route – hence growth as few drop off.”

In 2013, the ‘Ask. Listen. Respect.’ campaign was launched, with the dual purpose of better informing the public that sex without consent is rape and encouraging victims to come forward to report sexual crimes.

Pictured: The States of Jersey Police's 'Ask. Listen. Respect.' consent campaign website.

Education on sexual consent has also been a central part of Jersey Action Against Rape’s work, as well as providing support to victims.

Reacting to the FOI, Sara McIntosh, whose daughter Cassidy founded JAAR after herself being raped, commented that the rise in registered Sexual Offenders was "encouraging."

“We feel very much that it’s not a cause for concern. The rise in the Sexual Offenders list is because people are coming forward and reporting more," she said.

“This is a subject now with much more open discussion than it ever has done. People have the encouragement to come forward and know that they’re not alone, as it can be a very isolating experience.

“Now people realise that they have been wronged. Until they read more, they don’t always understand… Knowing there’s support for them if they do come forward has really encouraged people.”

Video: Jersey Action Against Rape's 'Don't Suffer in Silence' campaign video, released in April this year.

Barbara McMahon from Victim Support Jersey felt that an explanation for the rise was harder to pin down, and may be the result of a mixture of factors.

She commented: "It’s difficult to say whether the numbers reflect an increase in sexual offences being committed or whether it’s an indication that more people now feel confident enough to come forward to report what has happened to them. This is reflected in the fact that some cases are historical."

"There are now also more agencies working in this area, such as JAAR and the Independent Domestic Violence Advisers who offer specialist services, as well as the service provided by Victim Support for victims of crime."

She added: "Sexual violence can have devastating physical and emotional effects and it takes a lot of bravery for a victim to come forward. Their trauma can be on-going if a case goes to trial and we provide a Witness Service to support victims and witnesses through the court process."