« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
9. Restriction of Liberty Orders (Chart 30-31 and Tables 63 to 68)
9.1 In 2005-06, 4,030 RLO assessments were made (data provided by local authorities), a decrease of 25 per cent from 5,347 in 2004-05. This reduction was most pronounced in South Lanarkshire, with a decrease from 2,095 in 2004-05 to 751 in 2005-06. Assessments reported by Glasgow also decreased from 445 to 0 in this period. However, it should be noted that RLO assessments are often undertaken as part of a social enquiry report and these are not counted separately. The 4,030 assessments corresponds to a rate of 11.1 per 10,000 population.
9.2 Information on RLOs (provided by Reliance) was obtained for the first time in 2002-03. RLOs became available as a disposal to all of Scotland's High, Sheriff and Stipendiary courts from May 2002.
9.3 A total of 984 RLOs were made in 2005-06, an increase of 7 per cent from the total of 917 in 2004-05. The incidence of RLOs was 2.7 per 10,000 population in 2005-06.
9.4 Male offenders accounted for 90 per cent of RLOs. Over half of all males (69 per cent) and females (54 per cent) receiving RLOs were aged 25 years and under. Only 7 per cent of offenders were aged over 40 years. The incidence of RLOs was highest amongst 16 to 17 year olds (13.3 per 10,000 population) and 18 to 20 year olds (12.8 per 10,000 population).
Chart 30 Restriction of Liberty Orders by Age and Gender of Offender, 2003-04 to 2005-06
Orders per 10,000 population
9.5 RLOs were most likely to be of 3-6 months in length (56 per cent), or up to 3 months in length (19 per cent). Six per cent of offenders received the maximum length of 12 months.
Breaches of Restriction of Liberty Orders
9.6 Information on breaches of RLOs (provided by Reliance) was obtained for the first time in 2004-05. Four types of breach are recorded by Reliance:
- Level 1 breach - including withdrawal of consent (most commonly by the premises holder), missed full curfew, intentional tampering or damaging monitoring equipment and physical violence or threatening behaviour towards Reliance Monitoring Services staff.
- Level 1 variation combination - where the subject had to leave their restriction address incurring breach proceedings but has found alternative accommodation for the court to consider as a possible restriction address.
- Level 2 breach - an accumulation of time violations resulting in a return to Court under breach proceedings.
- Level 3 breach - entering a restriction / exclusion zone.
9.7 A total of 986 breach reports of RLOs were submitted to the courts in 2005-06, an increase of 28 per cent from the total of 770 in 2004-05. Eighty-six per cent of these related to level 1 breaches (including variation combinations), 12 per cent to level 2 breaches and the remaining 2 per cent to level 3 breaches.
9.8 Male offenders accounted for 94 per cent of RLO breaches. Seventy per cent of all males and 60 per cent of all females with breaches of RLOs were aged 25 years and under. Only, seventeen per cent of offenders with breaches of RLOs were aged over 30 years.
Chart 31 Breaches of Restriction of Liberty Orders by Age and Gender of Offender, 2005-06
Percentage of breaches
« Previous | Contents | Next »