Written question asked by David Ruffley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 3 November 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 November 1998. It was answered by Lord Boateng (Labour) on Monday, 9 November 1998 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the average period of time taken for a sex offender's name to appear on the national register of sex offenders following a conviction for a sexual offence. - Includes ref to Sex Offenders Act 1997 and disproportionate cost.

Answer: Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average period of time taken for a sex offender's name to appear on the national register of sex offenders following a conviction for a sexual offence. [58529] Mr. Boateng: The Sex Offenders Act 1997 requires offenders convicted of a relevant offence to notify the police of their name and address within 14 days of conviction or release from prison if a custodial sentence is passed. Although the information is held on the Police National Computer the original notification is made locally. The average time taken for registration could, therefore, only be calculated by reference to over 6,000 paper records held by police forces. Such an exercise would involve disproportionate cost.

Secondary information