Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Scotland: National Overview Report 2024-2025
The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), are a set of statutory partnership working arrangements introduced in 2007. This report provides an overview of the main national developments in relation to MAPPA during the reporting period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
Appendix C: MAPPA National Data
This Appendix outlines patterns in information on Registered Sex Offenders (RSOs) extracted from the ViSOR database on 31 March of each year. This provides a snapshot at a point in time.
| Category | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| RSOs managed in custody and in the community on 31 March | 6,878 | 7451 |
| RSOs managed in the community on 31 March | 4,948[7] | 5280[8] |
| RSOs managed at Level 1 in the community on 31 March | 4,848 | 5161 |
| RSOs managed at Level 2 in the community on 31 March | 95 | 114 |
| RSOs managed at Level 3 in the community on 31 March | 0 | 1 |
| RSOs reported/charged[9] for breaches of notification | 390 | 479 |
| RSOs convicted of a further group 1 or 2 crime[10] | 254 | 296 |
| RSOs wanted on 31 March | 12 | 17 |
| RSOs missing on 31 March | 1 | 0 |
On 31 March 2025, there were 7,451 RSOs in Scotland who were managed in custody or in the community. The total number of RSOs has increased by 8% compared with 2024 when there were 6,878 recorded.
On 31 March 2025, 71% of RSOs (5,280 RSOs) were being managed in the community, with the vast majority of these (5,161 RSOs) being managed at the lowest MAPPA management level, level 1. The remaining RSOs (114) were being managed at level 2. On that date only one RSO was being managed at level 3.
In 2024-2025, 94% of RSOs complied with their notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Although a direct comparison with 2023-24 is not possible (see footnote 9), the percentage of RSOs who were charged with breach in 2024-25 was 6% and the percentage of RSOs who were reported for breach in 2023-24 was also 6%, which is in line with recent trends. With the exception of 2022-23, the breach rate for the previous eight years has consistently been around 5%-6%.
Sex Offender Notification Requirements (SONR) are robustly policed so that those who breach their terms are identified at the earliest opportunity. The RSO can receive a maximum penalty of 5 years' imprisonment for failing to comply with notification requirements.
The National Statistics on Recorded Crime in Scotland 2024-25 published in June 2025, illustrated that sexual crimes accounted for 5% of all crimes recorded in Scotland in 2024-25, as was the case in 2023-24. The report stated that sexual crimes recorded by the police in Scotland increased by 3%, from 14,484 in 2023-24 to 14,892 in 2024-25. These crimes are now at the second highest level seen since 1971, the first year for which comparable groups are available.
A number of legislative and procedural changes will have had an impact on this long-term upward trend of recorded sexual crimes since this time. In addition to these changes, the issue of historical reporting of sexual crime also continues to play a role in the latest statistics. As detailed in the report, information from Police Scotland suggests that a quarter (25%) of sexual crimes in 2024-25 were recorded at least one year after they occurred. The increase in sexual cyber-crimes has also had an impact on long term trends. According to the report, it is estimated that the volume of sexual crimes that were cyber-crimes has increased from 1,100 in 2013-14 to 4,070 in 2024-25.
The proportion of RSOs who have been convicted of a further Group 1 or 2 crime has increased in the last year from 3.7% (254) in 2023-24 to 4% (296) in 2024-25. Some caution should be applied in the interpretation of these figures, as accuracy may be compromised by a number of different factors, not least that
the statistics represent a snapshot in time (31 March 2025). This means there may be significant time lapse between an individual being charged and securing a conviction, resulting for instance in an RSO being charged in 2024-25 for a Group 1 or 2 crime, but not appearing in reconviction statistics for that reporting period. It may also be the case that at point of conviction for a further offence, the individual may no longer be an RSO and would not appear in these statistics.
When individuals managed under MAPPA commit further serious offences, the SCR process examines the MAPPA policies and processes in place for the management of the individual. It identifies areas of learning and good practice and so contributes to continuous learning to improve future policy and practice.
Wanted and Missing Registered Sex Offenders:
A Missing person is defined as anyone whose whereabouts is unknown and:
- where the circumstances are out of character; or
- the context suggests the person may be subject to crime; or
- the person is at risk of harm to themselves or another.
Wanted Registered Sex Offenders are defined as those who are subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and who have a live warrant in force.
On 31 March 2025, Police Scotland reported that 17 RSOs were wanted and no RSOs were reported missing. The latest update from Police Scotland provides that 15 of the RSOs who were wanted were subsequently assessed as having left the United Kingdom with no indication that they had returned.
Police Scotland treat all missing and wanted RSOs with the utmost seriousness and carry out thorough enquiries to trace their whereabouts and to re-establish the management required to protect the public. On all occasions a Senior Investigating Officer of a rank no less than Inspector will be appointed to lead these investigations. Up to date figures are available via the Police Scotland Website.
Contact
Email: angela.morgan@gov.scot