Rapist not being tracked due to police IT problems

GMP announced it would replace part of its £60 million iOPS system in March 2022, but it remains unclear when this replacement will be completed.

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct found that the actions of the two officers involved in the case “fell below the expected standard” but stopped short of recommending disciplinary proceedings.

The case raised concerns about increasing pressure on police teams responsible for monitoring registered sex offenders.

Figures show there were 70,052 registered sex offenders in England and Wales at the end of March 2024; This is a 52% increase since 2014.

Former Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon said the number of criminals needing to be policed ​​was “huge” and “will continue to grow”.

In 2023 Mr Creedon published an independent review into how police monitor sex offenders in the community and called for greater focus on the most dangerous offenders.

He said there was only a “small group” of people who presented very high risk and that “those are the ones we need to focus effort and resources on.”

“The volume of criminals and bureaucracy can so drain resources that they cannot focus on the high-risk ones,” he added.

The Home Office said violence against women and girls was a “national emergency” and the government had made “a range of commitments to transform the criminal justice response to sexual violence”.