Missing: Davinder Singh has not been seen since July
A Conservative MSP has hit out after it emerged a convicted sex offender has not been seen by the authorities since July last year.
Indian national Davinder Singh, 31, was last seen in the Falkirk area on July 7 last year. Central Scotland Police have said they have been investigating Singh’s non-compliance of the terms of his registration since then and a warrant has subsequently been issued for his arrest.
John Lamont MSP, the Conservative Minister for Community Safety, said: "There are serious questions to ask here. Why are we only just learning about this man now, when he has been on the run for six months?
"Merely placing somebody on the sex offenders register is not enough. That is why Scottish Conservatives have repeatedly called for lie detector tests for sex offenders, as part of a package of measures which also include the naming and shaming of absconded sex offenders and GPS tracking.
"Here, an absconded sex offender has not been named and that is unacceptable. Whilst we may never be able to stamp this out entirely we can at least with a mixture of realism and the use of technology do everything possible to minimise the risk to the public and particularly young children. The SNP Government and Kenny MacAskill have a lot of explaining to do."
Singh had been living in the Central Scotland Police area since February 2006. He was convicted of a sexual offence in relation to a 15-year-old girl in February 2007 at Falkirk Sheriff Court. He was subsequently fined and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, speaking to STV News, said: "We have always said if sex offenders seek to go missing and seek to avoid responsibility and accountability then all bets are off.
"We would ask people to be eyes and ears for the police. The police have powers. The police do the job. But if they (the public) have the information, tell the authorities. They will do the job to make our communities safe. We are bringing in a pilot scheme in Tayside to make sure individuals have a legitimate right to know."
When asked why Singh has been off the police radar since July, Mr MacAskill said: "These are operational matters. Sometimes it can be counter-productive if the police name them then they go underground. We trust our police. The police are asking for our help and it is now time for our citizens to help the police."
A Scottish Government spokesman added: "It's widely recognised that each decision is an operational matter for police and local agencies, based on specific intelligence and a professional assessment of risk and the potential results of publishing or not publishing.
"However the Justice Secretary has made clear his view that where a high-risk sex offender goes missing all options must be considered, including publishing details in mainstream media - just as has happened in several cases over the last year."
Singh is described as being of Indian appearance, five foot seven inches tall, of slim build with black hair and brown eyes. It is thought he may have travelled to England.
Anyone who has seen Singh or has any information on his whereabouts should contact Central Scotland Police on 01786 456000. Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
