Registered Sex Offender Orders
The figures below show the cumulative totals for each category at the end of November and December. These are not monthly counts but running totals that reflect the overall number recorded up to each date.
2026
| Category | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Sex Offender (RSO) | 3,103 | 3,133 | 3,175 | 3,173 | 3,184 | |
| Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) | 1,741 | 1,759 | 1,784 | 1,792 | 1,812 | |
| Sexual Risk Order (SRO) | 33 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 33 | |
| Potentially Dangerous Person (PDP) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
2025
| Category | November | December |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Sex Offender (RSO) | 3,068 | 3,107 |
| Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) | 1,710 | 1,736 |
| Sexual Risk Order (SRO) | 32 | 32 |
| Potentially Dangerous Person (PDP) | 3 | 3 |
Definitions
In the UK, a Registered Sex Offender is someone who must follow notification rules under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
A registered sex offender is anyone convicted or cautioned for a qualifying sexual offence, such as rape, sexual assault, grooming, or offences involving indecent images.
What does registration mean?
The person must register with the police within three days of conviction, caution, or release. They must give and keep the police updated with details such as:
- full name and any aliases
- date of birth
- home address and any changes
- National Insurance number
- passport details and foreign travel plans
- bank accounts
- vehicle ownership (in some cases)
Police may visit their home, take photographs, and check compliance.
How long does registration last?
It depends on the sentence:
- 30+ months in custody: indefinite (life). This can be reviewed after 15 years
- 6 to 30 months in custody: ten years
- less than 6 months in custody: seven years
- Community Order: five years
- adult caution: two years
Failing to follow the rules is a criminal offence and can lead to up to five years in prison.
Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPOs) were introduced under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and updated by the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. They replaced the previous Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs) in 2015.
An SHPO is a court order that places restrictions on someone’s behaviour to protect the public or specific individuals from sexual harm. Its main purpose is to reduce the risk of sexual harm.
Who can get a SHPO?
An SHPO can be given to:
- anyone convicted or cautioned for a sexual offence listed in Schedule 3 (such as rape, sexual assault, or offences involving indecent images of children).
- people convicted of certain non-sexual offences in Schedule 5 (such as murder or kidnapping) if there is a link to sexual risk.
- individuals who have not been convicted but are assessed as posing a high risk of sexual harm.
Restrictions
An SHPO can include specific prohibitions, such as:
- limits on internet use
- restrictions on foreign travel
- no unsupervised contact with children
- bans on working in certain jobs
Any conditions must be necessary, proportionate, and tailored to the level of risk.
How long does an SHPO last?
It lasts for at least five years and can be set to run indefinitely. If circumstances change, the person can apply to have the order varied or cancelled.
Breaching an SHPO is a crime and can lead to a prison sentence of up to five years.
A Sexual Risk Order is a civil order made under Section 122A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. It is used to protect the public from sexual harm by placing restrictions on people who have not been convicted or cautioned for a sexual offence but are considered a risk.
Key points:
No conviction is needed, a court can make an SRO if it believes, on the balance of probabilities, that the person has done something sexual and an order is needed to protect the public or vulnerable individuals.
Conditions:
The order can ban certain activities, such as:
- using the internet
- travelling abroad
- having contact with children
It can also require positive actions, like attending treatment programmes.
How long does it last?
An SRO lasts for at least two years or until the court changes it.
Restrictions on foreign travel can last up to five years.
Breaching an SRO is a crime and can lead to a prison sentence of up to five years.
This is a policing term used in the UK for people who pose a serious risk of harm but do not meet the criteria for management under MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements).
A PDP is not defined by law but is recognised in the College of Policing’s Authorised Professional Practice (APP). It refers to someone where there are reasonable grounds to believe they are likely to commit an offence that could cause serious harm.
Key points:
No conviction is needed, PDPs often include people who have been repeatedly investigated for serious offences (such as sexual abuse, domestic violence, or terrorism) but have never been charged or convicted.
Risk criteria:
There must be a likelihood of committing offences that cause serious harm, meaning life-threatening or traumatic harm that is difficult to recover from.
The risk must be imminent and significant.