THERE is an "increasing trend" of identifying violent and sexual offenders on social media who are under public protection arrangements in Fife.

That's put them at risk of reprisals and forced the authorities to move them from their home or provide "round-the-clock" security, piling more pressure onto already-stretched resources.

More worryingly, the chair of Fife Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) said there had been cases of "mistaken identity" where people have been accused falsely of being criminals, which can lead to "untold turmoil".

In the annual report, Alan Small urged people not to 'out' offenders on social media and said: "MAPPA is a complex process and requires co-ordination and assessment of information from all partners resulting in actions delivered within existing resources.

"The increasing trend of identifying MAPPA-managed individuals on social media and other means has significantly added to the pressures placed on those resources.

"Extensive background and environment checks are carried out to ensure that individuals are housed within an area that has been risk-assessed.

"Their identification on social media can result in responsible authorities having to find alternative housing or provide round-the-clock protection at a moment’s notice."

He continued: "At times, individuals are subject to instances of mistaken identity which can result in untold turmoil.

"This adds to the already heavy workload those delivering MAPPA are subject to and means that resources have to be diverted from providing essential services.

"We live in a world where it is easy to use social media as a means of reaching hundreds and thousands of people within seconds, at times without fully considering the consequences.

"I would encourage anyone considering carrying out such activity not to."

The main purpose of MAPPA is to protect the public from violent and sexual offenders and the annual report offers an insight into the scale and nature of the work being done to keep our communities safe.

It includes the police, Fife Council criminal justice social work, NHS Fife, housing services and others working together to manage individuals who are convicted of such serious crimes.

This is particularly important for local communities when those offenders are out of prison and back living in society.

The report said that 97.45 per cent of MAPPA-managed offenders in Fife did not commit a further sexual offence in 2018-19, adding that "most of the offences committed were of a minor nature".

And it outlined the steps that are taken if an offender commits, or attempts to commit, further serious or sexual crime.

As of the end of March, they were managing 452 offenders with 320 of them "at liberty" in the community.

The majority are managed at level 1 – routine risk management – and the report said that 40 per cent of registered sex offenders are aged 31-50 and 20 per cent are over the age of 60.

There were 56 sexual offences prevention orders in force last year and 15 breaches were identified.

As of the end of March, Fife had two category 3 high-risk offenders in the community and four in custody.