NUMBERS of registered sex offenders in Suffolk have increased by nearly seven per cent in a year, the Evening Star can today reveal.There were 368 in the county in 2005 with numbers rising to 393 in 2006.

NUMBERS of registered sex offenders in Suffolk have increased by nearly seven per cent in a year, the Evening Star can today reveal.

There were 368 in the county in 2005 with numbers rising to 393 in 2006.

And the number is expected to rise further because due to the length of time offenders remain on the register, there are more people added than taken off it each year.

The latest figures are highlighted in a report published today by the organisation responsible for managing high risk offenders.

The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) annual report said there are 516 offenders living in Suffolk managed by them of which 393 are registered sex offenders, 109 are violent offenders and other sexual offenders, and 14 are other offenders.

Despite the rise only 5.3per cent of registered sex offenders living in Suffolk in 2005/06 were considered to pose a high risk, and none of them committed a serious further offence, the report said.

The report also revealed that no high risk offenders in Suffolk committed a serious sexual or violent offence while their cases were managed by the partnership last year.

Suffolk MAPPA manager Tim Sykes, said: “The MAPPA have gone from strength to strength and this report demonstrates the close co-operation and developing partnership between criminal justice agencies and the statutory organisations in Suffolk.

“The protection of the public is our highest priority and all staff involved are working hard to ensure the risks posed by offenders under supervision are minimised.

“We are pleased to report that there were no serious further offences committed by offenders managed by MAPPA. However, we must not be complacent and ensure that our management of offenders is defensible and will stand scrutiny in the even of serious re-offending.”

The report comes after the Evening Star revealed concerns had been raised after it emerged two hostels close to Ipswich primary schools are approved to house sex offenders.

The report revealed that through the intervention of MAPPA agencies, which include police, probation service, social care services, and mental health partnerships, 16 Suffolk high risk offenders were sent back to prison for breaches of their parole licences last year.

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