Paedo postcode lottery

Police policy may mean your children are more at risk

By Guy Basnett, 28/09/2008

THE number of police checking up on sex perverts across the country
has turned into a postcode LOTTERY.

A News of the World inquiry today reveals how some forces in England
and Wales assign just ONE specialist officer to keep track of every
SIXTY-FIVE known sex fiends.

Yet in some regions the ratio falls as low as one cop to 15 perverts—
that’s a QUARTER of the workload.

Experts fear that in areas where police numbers are stretched, sex
offenders are much more likely to go off-radar —and strike again.

Our findings prove the urgent need for the introduction of Sarah’s Law
— currently on trial—which would let families check if their kids are
at risk from predatory paedophiles.

Pilot schemes began in four areas earlier this month, following an
eight-year campaign led by the mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah
Payne and backed by the News of the World.

But worried parents will find little comfort in our latest findings.
They show just 700 trained officers in Britain have the job of keeping
track of more than 30,000 registered sex offenders, helped only by
probation workers.

As our map shows, police manpower allocated to monitoring perverts
varies wildly from area to area. So families living a few miles apart
can face a world of difference when it comes to keeping their children
from harm.

Stretched

We found cops in Greater Manchester have the toughest job, with only
26 full-time and one part-time officer watching 1,722 offenders.

It means each hard-pressed officer has to track an average of 65 sex
attackers—the same 65-1 ratio as in Northamptonshire where six
officers keep an eye on 355 registered offenders.

Cheshire police, at 64-1, also score badly with a mere seven full-time
and four part-time officers monitoring 577 sex attackers.

Yet a few miles down the road, Derbyshire has the LOWEST ratio with 13
full-time officers monitoring 192 sex offenders—a comforting 15-1.

Since the Home Office demand “very high” risk offenders be checked
monthly and those rated “high” are done every three months, it is easy
to see why resources are stretched thin.

Every force insists it puts public safety first. But with no full
commitment to Sarah’s Law, many parents will still fear for their
children.

Sarah's Law: More tip-offs

POLICE working on the new Sarah’s Law are investigating fresh tip-offs
about suspected sex offenders.

More calls have been received to a hotline run by a team of officers
involved in the four pilot schemes to protect youngsters from
paedophiles living in their area. Cambridgeshire police are checking
two complaints from callers.

One was from a father concerned that his ex-partner was in a
relationship with a sex offender. Another case involves a girl under
16 said to be having an affair with an adult.

Cops in Warwickshire have already held one man as a result of a tip-
off.

And Cleveland police told worried parents they were RIGHT to suspect
two men of being paedophiles.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/article34880.ece

*****
WM
www.critest.com

Webmanager_CritEst wrote:

> A News of the World inquiry today reveals how some forces in England
> and Wales assign just ONE specialist officer to keep track of every
> SIXTY-FIVE known sex fiends.

I'm a sex fiend, and so is my wife!

(no 134 in an occasional series of tired Python jokes)

-- 
Criticising the government is not illegal, but on investigation often
turns out to be linked to other offences

On Sep 28, 1:35 pm, Webmanager_CritEst  wrote:
> Paedo postcodelottery
>
> Police policy may mean your children are more at risk
>
> By Guy Basnett, 28/09/2008
>
> THE number of police checking up on sex perverts across the country
> has turned into a postcodeLOTTERY.
>
> A News of the World inquiry today reveals how some forces in England
> and Wales assign just ONE specialist officer to keep track of every
> SIXTY-FIVE known sex fiends.
>
> Yet in some regions the ratio falls as low as one cop to 15 perverts—
> that’s a QUARTER of the workload.
>
> Experts fear that in areas where police numbers are stretched, sex
> offenders are much more likely to go off-radar —and strike again.
>
> Our findings prove the urgent need for the introduction of Sarah’s Law
> — currently on trial—which would let families check if their kids are
> at risk from predatory paedophiles.
>
> Pilot schemes began in four areas earlier this month, following an
> eight-year campaign led by the mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah
> Payne and backed by the News of the World.
>
> But worried parents will find little comfort in our latest findings.
> They show just 700 trained officers in Britain have the job of keeping
> track of more than 30,000 registered sex offenders, helped only by
> probation workers.
>
> As our map shows, police manpower allocated to monitoring perverts
> varies wildly from area to area. So families living a few miles apart
> can face a world of difference when it comes to keeping their children
> from harm.
>
> Stretched
>
> We found cops in Greater Manchester have the toughest job, with only
> 26 full-time and one part-time officer watching 1,722 offenders.
>
> It means each hard-pressed officer has to track an average of 65 sex
> attackers—the same 65-1 ratio as in Northamptonshire where six
> officers keep an eye on 355 registered offenders.
>
> Cheshire police, at 64-1, also score badly with a mere seven full-time
> and four part-time officers monitoring 577 sex attackers.
>
> Yet a few miles down the road, Derbyshire has the LOWEST ratio with 13
> full-time officers monitoring 192 sex offenders—a comforting 15-1.
>
> Since the Home Office demand “very high” risk offenders be checked
> monthly and those rated “high” are done every three months, it is easy
> to see why resources are stretched thin.
>
> Every force insists it puts public safety first. But with no full
> commitment to Sarah’s Law, many parents will still fear for their
> children.
>
> Sarah's Law: More tip-offs
>
> POLICE working on the new Sarah’s Law are investigating fresh tip-offs
> about suspected sex offenders.
>
> More calls have been received to a hotline run by a team of officers
> involved in the four pilot schemes to protect youngsters from
> paedophiles living in their area. Cambridgeshire police are checking
> two complaints from callers.
>
> One was from a father concerned that his ex-partner was in a
> relationship with a sex offender. Another case involves a girl under
> 16 said to be having an affair with an adult.
>
> Cops in Warwickshire have already held one man as a result of a tip-
> off.
>
> And Cleveland police told worried parents they were RIGHT to suspect
> two men of being paedophiles.
>
> http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/article34880.ece
>
> *****
> WMwww.critest.com

Sex offender figures 'misleading'

By Jack Sommers
29/ 9/2008

Figures saying there are 37 sex offenders in the county for every
police officer dedicated to monitoring them, are misleading, Hampshire
police say.

A spokesperson said the figures, published in Sunday’s News Of The
World, do not account for other agencies, including the probation
service, the police work with to monitor sex offenders.

The figures were part of a nation-wide survey of how many officers
each county assigns to monitoring sex offenders.

The paper says they prove the need for ‘Sarah’s Law’ – legislation
that would give controlled access to the Sex Offenders Register.

The proposed law is named after schoolgirl Sarah Payne, who was
murdered by a convicted sex offender in 2000.

Det Ch Ins Mark Ashthorpe said: “The protection of the public is a
priority for the police, and Hampshire Constabulary has invested
significant resources into the management of sexual offenders.

“The force has worked alongside its partner agencies for a number of
years to carry out Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements
(MAPPA).

“An individual can be brought into the MAPPA process for a number of
reasons including once they become a registered sex offender (RSO).

“That process is about the engagement of all agencies, including the
police, to actively manage sex offenders, to reduce the risk they pose
and so increase public safety.

“RSOs cannot be monitored around the clock. The reality is that they
live in the community, they are not in prison but they are managed to
the best of our abilities and to a high degree of success.

“In Hampshire, RSOs are involved with the MAPPA process to help and
encourage them to comply with their agreed directives.

“This might involve informing them we are going to disclose their
details to members of the public whom we consider at risk.

“The police maintain regular contact with offenders, both in person
and on the telephone.

“They are required to notify us of their address as well as addresses
they visit regularly.

“Offenders are also required to notify the police if they plan to
travel abroad.

“Whilst the MAPPA process monitors and assesses, police can use other
legislation, including preventative orders granted by the courts, to
manage offenders and restrict their actions.”

http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2036271_sex_offender_figures_misleading

****

NOTW  'misleading'? Really?

WM

"Webmanager_CritEst"  wrote in message 
news:b176487b-5988-42c2-9fa6-9c67a2457573@l62g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
On Sep 28, 1:35 pm, Webmanager_CritEst  wrote:
> Paedo postcodelottery
>
> Police policy may mean your children are more at risk
>
> By Guy Basnett, 28/09/2008
>
> THE number of police checking up on sex perverts across the country
> has turned into a postcodeLOTTERY.
>
> A News of the World inquiry today reveals how some forces in England
> and Wales assign just ONE specialist officer to keep track of every
> SIXTY-FIVE known sex fiends.
>
> Yet in some regions the ratio falls as low as one cop to 15 perverts—
> that’s a QUARTER of the workload.
>
> Experts fear that in areas where police numbers are stretched, sex
> offenders are much more likely to go off-radar —and strike again.
>
> Our findings prove the urgent need for the introduction of Sarah’s Law
> — currently on trial—which would let families check if their kids are
> at risk from predatory paedophiles.
>
> Pilot schemes began in four areas earlier this month, following an
> eight-year campaign led by the mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah
> Payne and backed by the News of the World.
>
> But worried parents will find little comfort in our latest findings.
> They show just 700 trained officers in Britain have the job of keeping
> track of more than 30,000 registered sex offenders, helped only by
> probation workers.
>
> As our map shows, police manpower allocated to monitoring perverts
> varies wildly from area to area. So families living a few miles apart
> can face a world of difference when it comes to keeping their children
> from harm.
>
> Stretched
>
> We found cops in Greater Manchester have the toughest job, with only
> 26 full-time and one part-time officer watching 1,722 offenders.
>
> It means each hard-pressed officer has to track an average of 65 sex
> attackers—the same 65-1 ratio as in Northamptonshire where six
> officers keep an eye on 355 registered offenders.
>
> Cheshire police, at 64-1, also score badly with a mere seven full-time
> and four part-time officers monitoring 577 sex attackers.
>
> Yet a few miles down the road, Derbyshire has the LOWEST ratio with 13
> full-time officers monitoring 192 sex offenders—a comforting 15-1.
>
> Since the Home Office demand “very high” risk offenders be checked
> monthly and those rated “high” are done every three months, it is easy
> to see why resources are stretched thin.
>
> Every force insists it puts public safety first. But with no full
> commitment to Sarah’s Law, many parents will still fear for their
> children.
>
> Sarah's Law: More tip-offs
>
> POLICE working on the new Sarah’s Law are investigating fresh tip-offs
> about suspected sex offenders.
>
> More calls have been received to a hotline run by a team of officers
> involved in the four pilot schemes to protect youngsters from
> paedophiles living in their area. Cambridgeshire police are checking
> two complaints from callers.
>
> One was from a father concerned that his ex-partner was in a
> relationship with a sex offender. Another case involves a girl under
> 16 said to be having an affair with an adult.
>
> Cops in Warwickshire have already held one man as a result of a tip-
> off.
>
> And Cleveland police told worried parents they were RIGHT to suspect
> two men of being paedophiles.
>
> http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/article34880.ece
>
> *****
> WMwww.critest.com

Sex offender figures 'misleading'

By Jack Sommers
29/ 9/2008

Figures saying there are 37 sex offenders in the county for every
police officer dedicated to monitoring them, are misleading, Hampshire
police say.

A spokesperson said the figures, published in Sunday’s News Of The
World, do not account for other agencies, including the probation
service, the police work with to monitor sex offenders.

The figures were part of a nation-wide survey of how many officers
each county assigns to monitoring sex offenders.

The paper says they prove the need for ‘Sarah’s Law’ – legislation
that would give controlled access to the Sex Offenders Register.

The proposed law is named after schoolgirl Sarah Payne, who was
murdered by a convicted sex offender in 2000.

Det Ch Ins Mark Ashthorpe said: “The protection of the public is a
priority for the police, and Hampshire Constabulary has invested
significant resources into the management of sexual offenders.

“The force has worked alongside its partner agencies for a number of
years to carry out Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements
(MAPPA).

“An individual can be brought into the MAPPA process for a number of
reasons including once they become a registered sex offender (RSO).

“That process is about the engagement of all agencies, including the
police, to actively manage sex offenders, to reduce the risk they pose
and so increase public safety.

“RSOs cannot be monitored around the clock. The reality is that they
live in the community, they are not in prison but they are managed to
the best of our abilities and to a high degree of success.

“In Hampshire, RSOs are involved with the MAPPA process to help and
encourage them to comply with their agreed directives.

“This might involve informing them we are going to disclose their
details to members of the public whom we consider at risk.

“The police maintain regular contact with offenders, both in person
and on the telephone.

“They are required to notify us of their address as well as addresses
they visit regularly.

“Offenders are also required to notify the police if they plan to
travel abroad.

“Whilst the MAPPA process monitors and assesses, police can use other
legislation, including preventative orders granted by the courts, to
manage offenders and restrict their actions.”

http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2036271_sex_offender_figures_misleading

****

NOTW  'misleading'? Really?

WM


It depends on how many of the 37 are MAPPA and at what level vers how many 
are low risk downloaders.

Webmanager_CritEst  writes:

> Figures saying there are 37 sex offenders in the county for every
> police officer dedicated to monitoring them, are misleading, Hampshire
> police say.

Even that sounds like a waste of manpower. It would mean that each
officer was spending, on average, about 1 hour each week checking up on
each sex offender.

On Sep 30, 3:51 pm, Graham Murray  wrote:
> Webmanager_CritEst  writes:
> > Figures saying there are 37 sex offenders in the county for every
> > police officer dedicated to monitoring them, are misleading, Hampshire
> > police say.
>
> Even that sounds like a waste of manpower. It would mean that each
> officer was spending, on average, about 1 hour each week checking up on
> each sex offender.

They don't, the number of visits is proportional to the level of risk.

WM

On Sep 30, 3:50 pm, "Airmax"  wrote:
> "Webmanager_CritEst"  wrote in message
>
> news:b176487b-5988-42c2-9fa6-9c67a2457573@l62g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> On Sep 28, 1:35 pm, Webmanager_CritEst  wrote:
>
>
>
> > Paedo postcodelottery
>
> > Police policy may mean your children are more at risk
>
> > By Guy Basnett, 28/09/2008
>
> > THE number of police checking up on sex perverts across the country
> > has turned into a postcodeLOTTERY.
>
> > A News of the World inquiry today reveals how some forces in England
> > and Wales assign just ONE specialist officer to keep track of every
> > SIXTY-FIVE known sex fiends.
>
> > Yet in some regions the ratio falls as low as one cop to 15 perverts—
> > that’s a QUARTER of the workload.
>
> > Experts fear that in areas where police numbers are stretched, sex
> > offenders are much more likely to go off-radar —and strike again.
>
> > Our findings prove the urgent need for the introduction of Sarah’s Law
> > — currently on trial—which would let families check if their kids are
> > at risk from predatory paedophiles.
>
> > Pilot schemes began in four areas earlier this month, following an
> > eight-year campaign led by the mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah
> > Payne and backed by the News of the World.
>
> > But worried parents will find little comfort in our latest findings.
> > They show just 700 trained officers in Britain have the job of keeping
> > track of more than 30,000 registered sex offenders, helped only by
> > probation workers.
>
> > As our map shows, police manpower allocated to monitoring perverts
> > varies wildly from area to area. So families living a few miles apart
> > can face a world of difference when it comes to keeping their children
> > from harm.
>
> > Stretched
>
> > We found cops in Greater Manchester have the toughest job, with only
> > 26 full-time and one part-time officer watching 1,722 offenders.
>
> > It means each hard-pressed officer has to track an average of 65 sex
> > attackers—the same 65-1 ratio as in Northamptonshire where six
> > officers keep an eye on 355 registered offenders.
>
> > Cheshire police, at 64-1, also score badly with a mere seven full-time
> > and four part-time officers monitoring 577 sex attackers.
>
> > Yet a few miles down the road, Derbyshire has the LOWEST ratio with 13
> > full-time officers monitoring 192 sex offenders—a comforting 15-1.
>
> > Since the Home Office demand “very high” risk offenders be checked
> > monthly and those rated “high” are done every three months, it is easy
> > to see why resources are stretched thin.
>
> > Every force insists it puts public safety first. But with no full
> > commitment to Sarah’s Law, many parents will still fear for their
> > children.
>
> > Sarah's Law: More tip-offs
>
> > POLICE working on the new Sarah’s Law are investigating fresh tip-offs
> > about suspected sex offenders.
>
> > More calls have been received to a hotline run by a team of officers
> > involved in the four pilot schemes to protect youngsters from
> > paedophiles living in their area. Cambridgeshire police are checking
> > two complaints from callers.
>
> > One was from a father concerned that his ex-partner was in a
> > relationship with a sex offender. Another case involves a girl under
> > 16 said to be having an affair with an adult.
>
> > Cops in Warwickshire have already held one man as a result of a tip-
> > off.
>
> > And Cleveland police told worried parents they were RIGHT to suspect
> > two men of being paedophiles.
>
> >http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/news/article34880.ece
>
> > *****
> > WMwww.critest.com
>
> Sex offender figures 'misleading'
>
> By Jack Sommers
> 29/ 9/2008
>
> Figures saying there are 37 sex offenders in the county for every
> police officer dedicated to monitoring them, are misleading, Hampshire
> police say.
>
> A spokesperson said the figures, published in Sunday’s News Of The
> World, do not account for other agencies, including the probation
> service, the police work with to monitor sex offenders.
>
> The figures were part of a nation-wide survey of how many officers
> each county assigns to monitoring sex offenders.
>
> The paper says they prove the need for ‘Sarah’s Law’ – legislation
> that would give controlled access to the Sex Offenders Register.
>
> The proposed law is named after schoolgirl Sarah Payne, who was
> murdered by a convicted sex offender in 2000.
>
> Det Ch Ins Mark Ashthorpe said: “The protection of the public is a
> priority for the police, and Hampshire Constabulary has invested
> significant resources into the management of sexual offenders.
>
> “The force has worked alongside its partner agencies for a number of
> years to carry out Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements
> (MAPPA).
>
> “An individual can be brought into the MAPPA process for a number of
> reasons including once they become a registered sex offender (RSO).
>
> “That process is about the engagement of all agencies, including the
> police, to actively manage sex offenders, to reduce the risk they pose
> and so increase public safety.
>
> “RSOs cannot be monitored around the clock. The reality is that they
> live in the community, they are not in prison but they are managed to
> the best of our abilities and to a high degree of success.
>
> “In Hampshire, RSOs are involved with the MAPPA process to help and
> encourage them to comply with their agreed directives.
>
> “This might involve informing them we are going to disclose their
> details to members of the public whom we consider at risk.
>
> “The police maintain regular contact with offenders, both in person
> and on the telephone.
>
> “They are required to notify us of their address as well as addresses
> they visit regularly.
>
> “Offenders are also required to notify the police if they plan to
> travel abroad.
>
> “Whilst the MAPPA process monitors and assesses, police can use other
> legislation, including preventative orders granted by the courts, to
> manage offenders and restrict their actions.”
>
> http://www.gethampshire.co.uk/news/s/2036271_sex_offender_figures_mis...
>
> ****
>
> NOTW  'misleading'? Really?
>
> WM
>
> It depends on how many of the 37 are MAPPA and at what level vers how many
> are low risk downloaders.

Tuesday, 30th September 2008

Sex offenders put pressure on police

Published Date: 29 September 2008

A national investigation has found specialist police officers in the
county are responsible for monitoring 65 sex offenders each – the
highest number of offenders per officer in the country.

It means just six specialist officers are dealing with the 355
registered sex offenders in the county, which is the same ratio of
officers to offenders as in Greater Manchester.

Under Home Office rules very high risk offenders must be checked
monthly and those rated high risk must be checked quarterly, but it is
feared with so many offenders to keep track of some may slip through
the net.

http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/Sex-offenders-put-pressure-on.4536163.jp

****
WM

"Graham Murray"  wrote in message 
news:877i8tadr7.fsf@newton.gmurray.org.uk...
> Webmanager_CritEst  writes:
>
>> Figures saying there are 37 sex offenders in the county for every
>> police officer dedicated to monitoring them, are misleading, Hampshire
>> police say.
>
> Even that sounds like a waste of manpower. It would mean that each
> officer was spending, on average, about 1 hour each week checking up on
> each sex offender.

Yes but some of those low risk ones would only get 1hr a year so alot more 
time would be spent on the very high risk/ high risk ones.

On Sep 30, 4:04 pm, "Airmax"  wrote:
> "Graham Murray"  wrote in message
>
> news:877i8tadr7.fsf@newton.gmurray.org.uk...
>
> > Webmanager_CritEst  writes:
>
> >> Figures saying there are 37 sex offenders in the county for every
> >> police officer dedicated to monitoring them, are misleading, Hampshire
> >> police say.
>
> > Even that sounds like a waste of manpower. It would mean that each
> > officer was spending, on average, about 1 hour each week checking up on
> > each sex offender.
>
> Yes but some of those low risk ones would only get 1hr a year so alot more
> time would be spent on the very high risk/ high risk ones.

Yes, also, for example, when I have a run in with plod, I am likely to
get a visit, as it looks like my dynamic risk may be increasing.

WM

Single officer for 40 convicted paedophiles

Published Date: 30 September 2008

NORTH Yorkshire Police has just ONE police officer checking on every
40 paedophiles in the county.

The information was revealed by a national newspaper just days after
an Evening News campaign to bring a new initiative to the town to help
protect children from paedophiles.

The county has 359 registered sex offenders – 113 of which are from
the eastern area which includes Scarborough.

The News of the World has now revealed the number of officers working
in each county. Some forces assign just one specialist officer to keep
track of 64 known paedophiles.

Four areas of the country – Warwickshire, Cambridgeshire, Cleveland
and Hampshire – have been piloting a new scheme, similar to Sarah's
Law, which gives parents the legal right to find out if a person they
are suspicious of is a convicted paedophile.

If the scheme is successful it may be introduced to other parts of the
country. Last week the Evening News printed an interview with a
Scarborough mother who was living doors away from a convicted
paedophile.

He was later found guilty of grooming children, who lived in her
street. Her child was almost one of his victims. On hearing the latest
news that just one police officer is responsible for 40 paedophiles,
she said "things need to change."

She said: "I got goosebumps when I heard that. How can one officer
possibly make regular checks on 40 paedophiles?

"You sometimes hear that teachers cannot cope with a class of 20
children, well then how can one person look after 40 paedophiles.
"These people need to be monitored so closely. If the man on my street
was regularly checked the whole thing may have been prevented.

"Things definitely need to change, for the sake of our children."

Evening News readers have voiced their opinion on our website about
the calls for "Sarah's Law."

One resident, who said her child was sexually assaulted, said: "I
support Sarah's Law and believe that used in the right way can help
and stop another child going through what we have.

"But I campaign for longer sentencing for sex offenders I campaign
they should serve the whole of the sentence they are given and not
half.

I also campaign for the Government to finance, recognise and own up to
what is happening behind closed doors in this county. They should give
more financial help to charities that help victims of child sexual
abuse."

Another resident said: "I live next door to a convicted paedophile who
only got a three year community order. The street I live in is a
lovely quiet area but has lots of kids and even a child minder.

"The police had known about him since November 2007 and we only found
out when it was in the paper last month."

http://www.scarborougheveningnews.co.uk/news/Single-officer-for-40-convicted.4540367.jp

****
WM

On Oct 1, 4:28 pm, Webmanager_CritEst  wrote:
> Single officer for 40 convicted paedophiles
>
> Published Date: 30 September 2008
>
> NORTH Yorkshire Police has just ONE police officer checking on every
> 40 paedophiles in the county.
>
> The information was revealed by a national newspaper just days after
> an Evening News campaign to bring a new initiative to the town to help
> protect children from paedophiles.
>
> The county has 359 registered sex offenders – 113 of which are from
> the eastern area which includes Scarborough.
>
> The News of the World has now revealed the number of officers working
> in each county. Some forces assign just one specialist officer to keep
> track of 64 known paedophiles.
>
> Four areas of the country – Warwickshire, Cambridgeshire, Cleveland
> and Hampshire – have been piloting a new scheme, similar to Sarah's
> Law, which gives parents the legal right to find out if a person they
> are suspicious of is a convicted paedophile.
>
> If the scheme is successful it may be introduced to other parts of the
> country. Last week the Evening News printed an interview with a
> Scarborough mother who was living doors away from a convicted
> paedophile.
>
> He was later found guilty of grooming children, who lived in her
> street. Her child was almost one of his victims. On hearing the latest
> news that just one police officer is responsible for 40 paedophiles,
> she said "things need to change."
>
> She said: "I got goosebumps when I heard that. How can one officer
> possibly make regular checks on 40 paedophiles?
>
> "You sometimes hear that teachers cannot cope with a class of 20
> children, well then how can one person look after 40 paedophiles.
> "These people need to be monitored so closely. If the man on my street
> was regularly checked the whole thing may have been prevented.
>
> "Things definitely need to change, for the sake of our children."
>
> Evening News readers have voiced their opinion on our website about
> the calls for "Sarah's Law."
>
> One resident, who said her child was sexually assaulted, said: "I
> support Sarah's Law and believe that used in the right way can help
> and stop another child going through what we have.
>
> "But I campaign for longer sentencing for sex offenders I campaign
> they should serve the whole of the sentence they are given and not
> half.
>
> I also campaign for the Government to finance, recognise and own up to
> what is happening behind closed doors in this county. They should give
> more financial help to charities that help victims of child sexual
> abuse."
>
> Another resident said: "I live next door to a convicted paedophile who
> only got a three year community order. The street I live in is a
> lovely quiet area but has lots of kids and even a child minder.
>
> "The police had known about him since November 2007 and we only found
> out when it was in the paper last month."
>
> http://www.scarborougheveningnews.co.uk/news/Single-officer-for-40-co...
>
> ****
> WM

Close watch on sex offenders

By Paula Roberts

DORSET'S most dangerous registered sex offenders are very closely
monitored to ensure the public are protected.

This is the response from Dorset Police following national reports
that the number of police checking on known perverts is a postcode
lottery.

According to the figures, Greater Manchester police had the highest
ratio - 65 offenders per officer - and Dorset wasn't far behind with
59 offenders per officer.

But officers from Dorset's public protection unit say in reality the
figure is much lower as its 10 specially trained officers concentrate
on managing the high or very high risk registered sex offenders and
less dangerous offenders are managed by officers across the force.

Detective Superintendent Mark Cooper, head of the unit, reiterated
that the most serious sex offenders are very closely monitored.

"Do not worry, we have very few high and very high risk offenders in
comparison to other areas," he said.

"That's what this team does. We carefully monitor where there is a
risk. We throw all our resources to it and target the individual and
prevent them from re-offending. Our job is to make the public safe."

Out of 598 people currently on the register in Dorset, 59 have been
deemed to be at very high risk of reconviction, 153 have been declared
as high risk, 198 of medium risk and 195 are deemed low risk.

After a registered sex offender is risk assessed they are visited by a
police officer from the force's registered sex offender management
unit for a more dynamic assessment.

Those still deemed to be of high risk or very high risk are managed by
an officer from the unit and receive visits every three months and
month respectively.

Individuals deemed medium or low risk are visited every six months or
a year respectively by an officer from one of the divisions. In the
future it is planned that all sex offenders will be managed solely by
the unit.

Sex offenders in Dorset are monitored by the county's Multi Agency
Public Protection Arrangements group.

DS John O'Hara, of the registered sex offender management unit, said
the figures are constantly changing with more people being added to
the register and individuals switching between the risk categories.

"Dorset Police will target those that are of the highest risk to
members of the public," he added.

http://www.thisisdorset.net/mostpopular.var.2455118.mostviewed.close_watch_on_sex_offenders.php

****
WM
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