POLICE CHIEFS moved to allay fears last night as the number of potentially dangerous sex offenders living in the region became clearer.

Northumbria Police revealed yesterday there were 553 people on the sex offenders' register. This follows the disclosure by Durham Police earlier in the week that it had 203 registered sex offenders living in their area.

The reports come days after the Home Office set out guidelines to establish and organise the rehabilitation, treatment and resettlement of violent and sex offenders.

Northumbria Police Chief Constable Crispian Strachan said: "The public can be assured that we know where all registered sex offenders are living in the Northumbria area and that risk management packages are in place for every one of them."

"The arrangements can include their living in a probation service hostel or attending a treatment programme."

Registered sex offenders have to report to their local police station within three days of being convicted, or on release from prison, to provide details of their address and to allow police to take an up-to-date photograph.

Police monitor the whereabouts of offenders for the duration of their registration period - which can be for life - and with a frequency determined by their level of assessed risk.

Cleveland Police are due to publish their figures of sex offenders early next month, with the North Yorkshire Police reporting in the first week of September.