MEMBERS of the public are being given the chance to make sure people are protected from potentially dangerous offenders living in the community.

The Multi-Agency Public Protection Panels (MAPPP) in North Yorkshire and the City of York are looking for two lay advisors.

The advisors would scrutinise arrangements on behalf of the public and help ensure that they are being best protected from the individuals.

Ideally, they will be local people who have a record of community involvement. They will not be paid, but will be carefully selected through interview procedures and psychometric tests.

MAPPP Strategic Management Board will be advertising for the lay advisers, and application forms can be obtained by contacting the human resources department of North Yorkshire Police.

New Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements came into being in North Yorkshire and the City of York in 2002.

The idea of the arrangements is that all the relevant agencies work together to ensure the risk of harm from a small number of known serious sexual or violent offenders living in the community is properly managed.

Members meet to discuss the few cases which pose a very high risk of serious personal harm to others. They share information, assess the dangers, agree action plans and meet to review them.