Sex offender law reforms promised
31 Aug 05
Investigations underway into handling of prime suspect in Rory Blackhall murder case
First Minister Jack McConnell has promised changes to the way the legal system deals with sex offenders following the murder of Rory Blackhall.
His pledge came after it emerged that Simon Harris was awaiting trial on sex abuse charges when it is suspected that he killed the 11-year-old Livingston schoolboy. Rory's body was found on 21 August.
Mr McConnell said that planned reforms to the bail system, court bureaucracy and the management of offenders would now be reviewed.
Harris had been arrested earlier this year in connection with allegations of sexual abuse against three girls aged between two and 11 over a period of seven years, and had appeared in court in February. He was due to face trial on Monday 22 August, but did not turn up at Linlithgow Sheriff Court. A warrant for his arrest was then issued but not acted upon.
The First Minister said: "I have no doubt whatsoever that our laws and our procedures to manage sex offenders in the community, the time it took to issue a warrant and a whole range of other areas are in need of updating.
"We will look very carefully at what has happened and learn the lessons, if there are lessons to be learned."
The Scottish Executive is already carrrying out a review of sex offender legislation following the murder of eight-year-old Mark Cummings by Stuart Leggate in 2004. Leggate lived in the same tower block as Mark, despite having previous convictions for sexually assaulting children and being on the sex offenders' register. Ministers expect to publish the report in the next few weeks.
It is reported in the Scotsman newspaper today that senior police officers have called for increased requirements on sex offenders to co-operate with efforts to manage them in the community and assess their risk of reoffending.
Justicce Minister Cathy Jamieson has asked officials to investigate the handling of Harris's case, including the decision not to oppose his application for bail which was granted in February. Yesterday she stated that the reason may have been the human rights legislation.
The Crown Office said that the week it took to process the warrant for Harris's arrest was in line with current best practice.