Shake-up keeping tabs on criminals

SUFFOLK'S most dangerous criminals and sex offenders are set be monitored more closely after a shake-up in the way the public are protected.

SUFFOLK'S most dangerous criminals and sex offenders are set be monitored more closely after a shake-up in the way the public are protected.

The move has seen a police office set up at Suffolk Probation's headquarters in Ipswich to step up the management of the county's offenders.

Staff from Suffolk Constabulary's new Public Protection Directorate are now based at Peninsular House meaning new resources will be put into Ipswich.

The directorate was set up to strengthen existing public protection work, much of which is carried out through the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) - a partnership between probation, police, the prison service and other organisations.

MAPPA's annual report, out later this month, shows there are 527 offenders living in Suffolk managed by the arrangements.

Of these, there are 413 registered sex offenders, 102 violent offenders or non registered sex offenders and 12 other offenders.

The number of registered sex offenders in the county rose from 393 in 2006 to 413 in 2007, with 8per cent considered to pose a high risk of harm, although none of them committed a further offence.

However, the rise in numbers on the register was due to the length of time offenders remain on it, while others are added, Suffolk Probation said.

Detective Sergeant Duncan Sheppard, said: “It's a big investment of resources by Suffolk Constabulary. It will ensure better management of registered sex offenders and potentially dangerous people.”