Where Is the Evidence-Based Policing in the Management of Sex Offenders in the UK?

• In Event: POLWG Panel 26. Beyond Police Enforcement: Diversion, Harm Reduction, Offender Management and Early Intervention

Abstract

Evidence-based policing is founded on the principle of using the best available evidence to inform and critically evaluate policing policies, practices, and decisions. Over the past two decades, its influence on policing in the UK has grown exponentially. Yet, when it comes to the management of sex offenders, evidence-based policing remains conspicuously absent—a particularly striking omission given the intense societal and political focus on this area of law enforcement. This paper presents the first comprehensive overview of the limited existing research on evidence-based sex offender management in the UK, drawing on a systematical scoping review. Through an in-depth practitioner discussion of the review’s findings, it critically examines the gap between evidence and practice. By highlighting the lack of empirical foundations in current approaches, this paper underscores the urgent need for a more evidence-driven framework in sex offender management—ensuring that policies and practices are not only shaped by political and societal concerns but also grounded in robust research and proven effectiveness.

Authors

• Kasper Jørgensen, Aalborg Universitet

• Dave Thompson, Leeds Beckett University