Essex has one of the lowest rates of sex offenders in the country, according to figures out today
The number of registered sex offenders in the county has gone up from 440 to 542 in the last year, a jump of 24 per cent.
But this is a cumulative figure and many offenders are on the register for ten years or even life, meaning convicted sex offenders will be added to the register each year but few taken off.
There are 33 registered sex offenders per 100,000 population, and the county has the third lowest rate in the country.
The figures are revealed in the annual report by the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements in Essex (Mappa), which deals with the most serious violent and sex offenders after release from prison.
Det Supt Bob Seals said: "The compliance rate of sex offenders, in their obligations to register with the police, remains very high.
"Only 16 cases (three per cent) have had to be dealt with for failing to make the necessary notifications."
Published Wednesday July 28, 2004
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