TEESSIDE has the highest rate of registered sex offenders in the country, new figures suggest.

More than 4,100 people convicted of sex crimes were managed by authorities in the North-East under multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPAs) between 2018 and 2019.

Nationwide, the number of sex offenders under such arrangements is growing and has increased by 73 per cent since 2010 and three per cent in a year.

At least 33 offenders in the North-East were recalled to prison last year after breaching the terms of their licences or failing to comply with prevention orders put in place to protect the public.

Ministry of Justice figures released this morning show that 233 were cautioned or convicted for breaching notification requirements that state those leaving prison must update the authorities regularly with details including their address and whether or not they are living with children.

Analysis of the statistics shows that Teesside has 166 registered sex offenders under MAPPAs per 100,000 people – the rate for England and Wales is 116.

Last year, there were 827 such offenders being dealt with by probation, police and prison services in the area.

In County Durham - which had the eighth highest rate at 142 per 100,000 people - the figure was 802 while Northumbria had 1652, a rate of 127, and North Yorkshire had 881 and a rate of 119.

MAPPAs are a set of statutory arrangements established to assess and manage the risk posted by serious sexual and violent offenders.

They rely on the cooperation of agencies and authorities including the police, probation and prison services, with social care and housing experts, immigration enforcement and electric monitoring providers among others who may be enlisted in a bid to protect the public from the risk of an individual committing further offences.

Government guidance says that MAPPA arrangements can vary in length significantly, with some offenders expected to comply for life and others for less than six months depending on the offence committed and the sentence imposed for it.

The latest figures show that 82,921 offenders were under MAPPA management in the community in England and Wales in March 2019, with around 73% of those registered sex offenders.

Statistics reflect a trend of successive annual increases and current sentencing approaches, according to the annual MAPPA report.

It says: “Sentencing trends contribute to changes in the number of RSOs, and the number of people convicted of sexual offences increased steadily until it began to fall in 2017/18.

“Additionally, many sex offenders have to register for long periods of time, with some registering for life…

“This has a cumulative effect on the total number of offenders required to register at any one time.”

Sex offenders expected to register for life have the right of appeal, with 19 people in the North-East having had life-time notifications revoked upon application last year.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “Sex offenders are only placed into the community after a risk assessment from both probation and police services, who monitor them while on licence and after their sentence ends.

"Their placement takes account of victims’ concerns and any exclusion zones that are in place to stop offenders going near to them.”