The number of registered sex offenders living in all 54 Edinburgh postcode areas as police say reoffending rates remain ‘very low’

The latest figures show there are more than 600 registered sex offenders (RSOs) living in Edinburgh and the Lothians, as police reassured the public that robust measures are in place to manage risk and reoffending rates remain “very low”.

The data, published by Police Scotland every month, shows there are at least 4,445 RSOs living in communities across Scotland with a breakdown of the numbers by postcode area provided.

Police were unable to comment on the reasons for variation in RSO numbers across Edinburgh. For instance, the EH6 Leith postcode has 51 RSOs - the highest number in the city – while the EH9 postcode covering The Grange, Marchmont and Mayfield area has one RSO.

Leith councillor Gordon Munro, Labour, says this reflects the fact Leith has a unique combination of B&B and temporary accommodation of council flats.

The latest figures show there are more than 600 registered sex offenders (RSOs) living in communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

He said: “The balance of accommodation and the allocation of places throughout the city needs to be reviewed. These figures show that. I expect a discussion to be held so that parts of the city such as Leith are not seen as soft easy options when placements are considered.”

There are 628 RSOs living in communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians, as well as some northern parts of the Borders, with data for Edinburgh Police Division alone showing there are 357 RSOs living in the Capital as of the start of July. There are also 131 RSOs in custody or in hospital in Edinburgh.

In comparison to other police divisions, there are 706 RSOs living in communities across Glasgow, 349 in Fife and 453 in the North East which covers Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray local authorities.

Data for a small number of postcodes are exempt under the legislation, due to the population in the area in question being particularly low which could lead to individuals being identified.

Detective Superintendent Paul Cherrie, head of Police Scotland's National Sex Offender Policing Unit, said: "Police Scotland, working with our MAPPA (multi-agency public protection arrangements) partners, manages registered sex offenders (RSOs) across all of Scotland's communities.

“Every single offender is assessed and managed in line with the risk they present. Sexual reoffending rates of RSOs remain very low.

“While we can never completely eliminate risk, MAPPA partners use robust risk assessment processes, and a range of investigative tools including the latest technologies, to manage RSOs, mitigate risk and to protect the public."

Number of RSOs in community by EH postcode

*Area names are given as a rough geographical guide

Edinburgh

EH1 - Old Town - 13

EH2 - New Town - no data

EH3 - Fountainbridge up to Warriston - 13

EH4 - Ravelston/Muirhouse/Cramond - 31

EH5 - Granton/Trinity - 14

EH6 - Leith - 51

EH7 - Powderhall to Restalrig - 37

EH8 - Southside to Northfield - 14

EH9 - Marchmont/Grange/Mayfield - 1

EH10 - Morningside down to Swanston - 5

EH11 - Gorgie/Stenhouse/Sighthill - 48

EH12 - Murrayfield/ Corstorphine/East Craigs - 15

EH13 - Oxgangs/Colinton - 5

EH14 - Slateford/ Wester Hailes/Currie and Balerno - 39

EH15 - Bingham/Portobello - 11

EH16 - Craigmillar/Inch/Liberton - 38

EH17 - Burdiehouse/Gilmerton - 17

Midlothian/ East Lothian/Borders

EH18 - Lasswade/Polton - 1

EH19 - Bonnyrigg - 3

EH20 - Straiton/Loanhead - 4

EH21 - Musselburgh/Wallyford - 20

EH22 - Danderhall/ Dalkeith/Mayfield - 30

EH23 - Gorebridge area - 5

EH24 - Rosewell area - 2

EH25 - Roslin/Bilston - 2

EH26 - Penicuik area - 5

EH27 - Kirknewton area - 2

EH28 - Newbridge/Ratho - 2

EH29 - Kirkliston area - 2

EH30 - Queensferry/Dalmeny - 3

EH31 - Gullane - 1

EH32 - Prestonpans/Cockenzie/Longniddry - 10

EH33 - Tranent area - 7

EH34 - Pencaitland area - no data

EH35 - Ormiston area - 1

EH36 - Humbie - no data

EH37 - Pathhead to Fala Village - no data

EH38 - Gilston to Dewar - no data

EH39 - North Berwick/ Drem/ East Fortune - 2

EH40 - East Linton area - 1

EH41 - Haddington down to Gifford - 10

EH42 - Dunbar and surrounding area - 3

EH43 - Walkerburn area, Borders - no data

EH44 - Innerleithen area - 1

EH45 - Peebles and surrounding area - 4

EH46 - West Linton and surrounding areas - 1

West Lothian

EH47 - Blackburn/Whitburn/Fauldhouse - 22

EH48 - Bathgate/Armadale - 33

EH49 - Linlithgow area - 10

EH51 - Bo’ness area - 8

EH52 - Broxburn/Uphall/Winchburgh - 18

EH53 - Mid Calder/East Calder - 10

EH54 - Livingston area - 46

EH55 - Polbeth/West Calder area - 7

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