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Murder

Ministers Accused of Failure Over Offenders Released in Community

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Ministers have been accused of serious failure over new figures showing that more than 60 rapes, murders, and other heinous crimes were committed by offenders let loose in the community. Experts believe the true figure is likely to be far higher, with around 250 such crimes committed annually. However, the Home Office has been criticized for excluding crucial information from its official statistics. The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa) data revealed a significant jump in the number of registered sex offenders who committed further offenses by breaching their conditions, with a 30% leap in the number charged or cautioned.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of offenders breached their licence increased by 18% year-on-year, with 1,540 offenders breaching their licence.
  • 104 offenders breached an order, up from 73 in the previous year.
  • The number of registered sex offenders who committed further offenses by breaching their conditions increased by 30%, with nearly 1,300 offenders charged or cautioned.
  • In Wales, the force with the highest number of registered sex offenders per 100,000 population is Gwent, with 70 offenders.
  • Shadow Home Secretary David Davis accused the Government of a "serious failure" to protect citizens, while Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman Nick Clegg called for an increase in public protection measures.
  • The number of registered sex offenders in England and Wales increased by over 3% to just under 30,000, while the number of violent offenders and other sex offenders jumped by over 13% to 14,317.

Statistics:

  • 1,540 offenders breached their licence (up 18% year-on-year)
  • 104 offenders breached an order (up from 73 in the previous year)
  • 30% increase in the number of registered sex offenders who committed further offenses by breaching their conditions
  • 1,300 offenders charged or cautioned for breaching sex offender conditions
  • 30,000 registered sex offenders in England and Wales (up over 3% from the previous year)
  • 14,317 violent offenders and other sex offenders (up over 13% from the previous year)
  • 47,653 violent and sex offenders being monitored by Mappa in England and Wales at the end of 2005/06 (up nearly 7% from the previous year)
  • 11% rise in the number of offenders classified as a 'high' or 'very high' risk of serious harm

Sources:

  • "Ministers accused of serious failure over offenders released in community" (By David Barrett Western Mail)
  • Data from the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (Mappa)
  • Quote from Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of probation union Napo
  • Quote from Shadow Home Secretary David Davis
  • Quote from Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesman Nick Clegg
  • Quote from Home Office Minister Gerry Sutcliffe
  • Report by Chief Inspector of Probation, Andrew Bridges, on the case of convicted rapist Anthony Rice

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