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Number of UK registered sex offenders rises
The number of registered sex offenders rose by 3 per cent last year to more than 31,000, the Ministry of Justice said on Sunday.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:55 October 21, 2008
London: The number of registered sex offenders rose by 3 per cent last year to more than 31,000, the Ministry of Justice said on Sunday.
In all, 31,392 people were required to sign the sex offenders register, almost 9,000 more than five years ago, while the number of violent offenders and other sexual offenders was also up 9 per cent to 16,249.
A total of 50,210 people in England and Wales were being monitored by Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangement (Mappa) teams, made up of police, prison probation and other agencies to monitor offenders on their release from prison.
The figures also showed that more than 1,700 highest category offenders, who require closer management and supervision, were returned to prison for breaching their licence or a sexual offences prevention order.
Additionally, 79 most dangerous offenders were charged with a further serious violent or sexual crime, such as murder, rape, or armed robbery - with 32 so far convicted - although this number was down from the previous year's figures.
"The first duty of the criminal justice system is to protect the public," said David Hanson, Minister for Justice.
Confrontational
"The offenders dealt with under the protection authority are those whose behaviour can be aggressive, irrational and confrontational.
This means that the risk of further offences is ever present - that risk can never be eliminated entirely - but the majority of those subject to active Mappa management do not seriously reoffend, due to robust and effective management," he added.
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