171 sex offenders living in Bolton

3:21pm Tuesday 23rd October 2007

BOLTON is home to 171 registered sex offenders, a new report has revealed.

The figure is a 10 per cent increase on last year, when there were 155 recorded offenders.

The authors of the report, Greater Manchester's police, probation and prison services, say the increase is not a cause for alarm. They insist it was anticipated due to increasing numbers of people being added to the sex offenders' register The three agencies together form the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa), set up to help monitor dangerous offenders convicted of sexual and violent offences.

Their report for 2006-07 reveals that in Greater Manchester there are now 1,722 registered sex offenders. 421 of which are high risk offenders. It does not give a breakdown of the nature of their crimes.

In the year ending March 31 2007 none were charged with committing any subsequent serious sexual or violent offence while 90 were returned to custody for breaching their licence.

Introducing the annual report a statement from Chief Constable Michael Todd, the area's chief probation officer John Crawforth and Ian Lockwood, assistant director of the prison service says: "Sexual and violent offences are dreadful crimes which deeply affect the lives of victims and their families.

"These offenders may be few in number but inevitably cause the greatest concern and strike fear into the hearts of our local communities.

"Although risk can never be totally eliminated the public of Greater Manchester can be reassured that through our strong partnerships we are doing everything we can to cut crime and make our communities safer."

Maria Eagle, the Government's under-secretary of state for Justice added that more is being done to ensure the agencies have better access to information about offenders. This month the computerised Violent and Sex Offender Register will start being made available to every probation service and prison in England and Wales as well as the police.

"Protecting the public is of paramount importance to the Government," said Ms Eagle.

"We are not complacent and continue to look for ways to improve how we manage these offenders and how best to support those responsible for the task locally."