Glasgow’s Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangement revealed that the number of British offenders increased by 8%
16:58, 21 Jan 2026Updated 19:26, 21 Jan 2026
Anti-migrant protesters demonstrated outside the Cladhan Hotel over ‘safety concerns'(Image: Getty Images)
The number of Registered Sex Offenders (RSOs) in Glasgow has risen by more than 10% in a single year, with new data revealing that the increase is being significantly driven by a surge in offenders from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Official figures from the 2024–2025 Glasgow Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangement (MAPPA) Annual Report show the total number of registered sex offenders in the city climbed from 987 to 1098, an overall rise of 11.2%.
However, a breakdown of the demographics indicates that the makeup of the register is shifting rapidly, mirroring the city’s changing population and the broader pressures of the ongoing immigration crisis.
While the number of White British offenders increased by a steady 8%, the number of individuals from visible ethnic minority backgrounds jumped by 22.3%, a growth rate nearly triple that of the majority population.
READ MORE: Car crash TV as John Swinney claims the Supreme Court ruling backs men in women’s jails
READ MORE: Asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks to get free mental health support while locals must wait months
The report highlights distinct spikes in specific demographic categories often associated with recent migration flows. The number of offenders identified as Arab increased by 63%, while the Indian demographic saw a 55% rise from last year.
The report revealed that the number of registered offenders identified as Arab rose to 18, up from 11 in the previous year. The total number of offenders identified as Asian increased by 10 individuals (from 54 to 64), including Indians and Pakistanis.
Rapualla Ahmadze was caged for raping a girl in Elgin(Image: Police Scotland)
Notably, the Indian demographic saw the most rapid growth within this group, rising by 55%. The register also recorded a 25% increase in offenders from Black, African, and Caribbean backgrounds, with every sub-category showing a rise.
The sharpest rises were seen in specific demographic groups such as Arab and Other Ethnicities, sparking questions about the impact of recent migration flows on the city’s justice system. The number of individuals listed as “Data Not Held” or “Not Known” surged to 215, accounting for nearly 20% of the entire register.
While the majority of offenders on the register remain White Scottish (644 individuals), the trajectory of the 2025 data indicates that Glasgow’s offender population is diversifying at a pace that outstrips the general population growth.
Report author, Lynsey Smith Chair of the Glasgow Strategic Oversight Group stated: “If an individual subject to MAPPA is assessed as presenting a high risk of serious harm to the public, they are subject to supervision, monitoring, victim safety planning, and treatment and/or intervention if deemed appropriate to reduce the risk.
Sadeq Nikzad.(Image: Police Scotland.)
“Restrictions can include living in approved accommodation, restrictions on the people that they can have contact and/or the locations that they can go to.
“The reduction of risk is not solely focused on restrictions, it also involves providing the individuals who have committed offences with resources to support them in changing their behaviour, which can include access to health services, housing, addiction support, and/or offence focused work. Offenders subject to MAPPA require to report to the Police or their Supervising Officer.”
It comes after various sex attacks that have been committed by migrants, including two high-profile crimes in Falkirk and Elgin. Afghan Sadeq Nikzad raped a 15-year-old girl. Nikzad was jailed for nine years in June after being found guilty of rape just yards from his migrant hostel.
Meanwhile, Rapualla Ahmadze, who claimed he was an escaped prisoner of the Taliban – attacked a 17-year-old in Cooper Park in Elgin, Moray, in August 2024. He was jailed for nine years, denied rape, claiming that sex was consensual. Police led cases increased from 739 to 839, while Social Work–led category 1 cases increased from 248 to 259.
RSOs in Glasgow by ethnicity
- White Scottish – 644 – up from 595 (8% increase)
- Other British – 69 – up from 66 (5% increase)
- Irish – 3 – no change
- Polish – 6 – down from 8 (25% decrease)
- Other white – 13 – up from 12 (8% increase)
- Pakistani/Pakistani Scottish or British – 33 – up from 29 (14% increase)
- Indian/Indian Scottish or British – 14 – up from 9 (56% increase)
- Chinese/Chinese Scottish or British – 2 – no change
- Bangladeshi/Bangladeshi Scottish or British – 3 – up from 2
- Other Asian – 12 – no change
- African/African Scottish or British – 45 – up from 38 (18% increase)
- Caribbean/Caribbean Scottish or British – 3 – up from 1
- Black/Black Scottish or British – 2 – up from 1
- Arab/Arab Scottish or British – 18 – 11 (63% increase)
- Other – 14 – up from 13
- Not known/Data not held – 214 – up from 182
- Subject doesn’t understand – 1 – new category
- Total at March 31, 2025 – 1098 – up from 987 at March 31, 2024
Never miss the latest top headlines from the Scottish Daily Express. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.