MORE than 250 sex offenders live on Teesside, a report published yesterday revealed.

The joint report by Cleveland Police and the Probation Service shows there are 266 registered sex offenders in the area.

Only two offenders on Teesside who have been ordered to place themselves on the sex offenders' register have failed to do so.

Figures issued last month by Northumbria Police revealed 553 sex offenders were registered in their area and 31 had failed to register.

Durham Police has 203 sex offenders in their area and ten who have tried to dodge the register.

"On Teesside we have a excellent compliance rate with just two not registering," said Lucia Saiger, assistant probation officer for Teesside.

Last April it became mandatory for police and the Probation Service to work together to manage sex offenders and violent criminals in the community and this is the first year official figures have been released.

Ms Saiger said every individual on the sex offenders' register was constantly monitored in a bid to reduce the risk they posed. Their identities were not revealed to those living near to or working with them, unless there was an immediate danger.

She said: "We go out and do home visits - planned and unplanned. We supervise them. We also put them on relevant programmes to help them address their behaviour."

Detective Inspector Darren Best, of Cleveland Police's public protection unit, said risk assessments were carried out on registered offenders.

"The important thing to remember is that all of them pose a risk and the measures we put in place are suitable for the individual," he said.

"We can never eliminate the risks posed by dangerous offenders, but we can minimise those risks and protect our communities."