The number of people in Tayside on the sex offenders register has risen, it has been revealed.
New figures show there has been a “significant” increase in the number of people living in the region who have been caught in possession of indecent images on the internet.
The annual report for Tayside Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) revealed there are 349 sex offenders in Tayside 22 more than the previous year.
All of the offenders are men, with 160 living in Dundee, 100 in Angus and 89 in Perth and Kinross.
Of the offenders, 142 are subject to statutory supervision managed jointly by Police Scotland and social workers.
The report said: “In terms of the nature of sexual offending, it is clear there has been a significant increase in the possession of indecent images on the internet, with 82 (23%) of offenders being convicted of such crimes.”
When it came to re-offending, seven people had returned to prison for breaching their supervision requirements and three were convicted of committing further serious crimes.
The report read: “It can therefore be seen that the compliance rate is high and re-offending rates continue to be low.”
Tayside’s coordinator for MAPPA, Elaine Osborne, also receives notifications of all registered sex offenders at HMP Castle Huntly.
The TCJA report continued: “MAPPA will continue to be the focus for the management of certain sexual offenders and work is ongoing for the extension of these arrangements to include violent offenders during 2016.
“Managing risk within the community is challenging and cuts across the organisational boundaries of many agencies.
“The public also have an important role in relation to public protection.
“The agencies within Tayside have for many years worked closely to manage offenders and MAPPA ensures that this continues to progress and strengthen.
“The management of high-risk offenders is a complex task,” the report added.