Armed Forces: Violent and Sex Offender Register

(asked on 13th May 2022) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 8 February 2022 to Question 117868 on Veterans: Violent and Sex Offender Register, what information his Department holds on potential circumstances in which serving personnel who are on the Sex Offenders Register might be in contact with vulnerable people as part of their service.


Answered by
Leo Docherty Portrait
Leo Docherty
Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
This question was answered on 19th May 2022

Defence places great importance on the appropriate management of both suspected and convicted sex offenders. Different arrangements are in place across the three Services. These may include an Employment Suitability Risk Assessment (ESRA) for those under investigation or made subject to registration under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. ESRAs provide a record of management and risk mitigation plans, are completed by the chain of command upon receipt of expert policy advice, and are updated at least every six months. The cases of those convicted of, or in receipt of a caution for a sexual offence could also be referred to the Standing Committee for Employment Risk Analysis (SCERA) who will provide advice on the appropriate action to be taken. Although appointment to roles requiring contact with vulnerable persons or under-18s is conditional upon a clean Disclosure and Barring Service certificate, additional risk assessment may be conducted by the chain of command and decisions may be reviewed by SCERA. An ‘Assignment Restriction’ note can also be placed on a subject’s personnel file within the Joint Personnel Administration System to ensure the individual does not get posted to units where it may be inappropriate to do so.

This is an area of great importance to Defence as we recognise the risk that sex offenders pose to others. We will continue to review and improve our policies and procedures to ensure that they are rigorous and that appropriate safeguarding measures are in place to enable a safe and respectful working environment.

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