Move to help house sex offenders

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Dumfries and Galloway Council is considering creating a special post to help house convicted sex offenders.

The authority has been awarded £50,000 to meet its obligations under a national strategy to tackle the issue.

A paper to go before social work committee councillors recommends establishing the post of sex offender liaison officer.

The position would initially be for a pilot period of 12 months and evaluated on its success after that.

'Budget pressure'

The Scottish Executive has provided funding for one year only to meet standards required under the National Accommodation Strategy for Sex Offenders (NASSO).

Beyond 2007/08 local authorities will be expected to meet any ongoing costs themselves.

A report to go before councillors said this would represent "a further budget pressure for the council to consider".

The new liaison officer would "provide strategic co-ordination in relation to the housing of sex offenders within the local authority area".

Councillors will be asked to approve the plans at a meeting next week.