Incidents involving criminals under supervision under-reported

There is an under-reporting of serious incidents involving criminals under community supervision in some parts of Scotland, according to the care watchdog.

There were 45 serious criminal social work incidents reported to the Care Inspectorate between the publication of new reporting guidelines in January 2012 and May this year, the watchdog said in its annual report.

These included 10 murders, a culpable homicide, eight sex offences, seven attempted murders, 10 unexplained deaths, four suicides, three severe assaults and two overdoses.

The Care Inspectorate remains “unconvinced” all council areas are reporting accurately or even reporting at all. It will continue to monitor progress with a view to seeing “evidence of increased reflections on good practice and improved reporting” this year.