ASHLEIGH Hall’s family say the circumstances surrounding her death at the hands of Peter Chapman “beggar belief”. We agree wholeheartedly.

Chapman was supposed to be registered on the sex offenders’ register, after a string of offences dating back 18 years.

The public perception is that dangerous perverts are made to sign the sex offenders’ register so they can be properly monitored. In Chapman’s case, that perception was a long way from reality.

This was a man who was able to surf the internet, posing as a teenager, so he could lure young girls into his trap.

And when he went missing on Merseyside, police took an incredible nine months before issuing a nationwide ‘wanted’ notice for him. Asked why it had taken so long, a force spokesman said he didn’t know.

It smacks of a disturbing lack of urgency which really does beggar belief.

Since Ashleigh’s death, much has been done in Darlington to improve internet safety. Through our “Safety Net” campaign, we have joined forces with Darlington Borough Council and Darlington College to raise awareness of the dangers lurking online.

It has been a positive partnership approach which we hope to see spread around the country.

But those efforts to focus on education will be undermined unless police procedures surrounding the sex offenders’ register are tightened up.

It is a scandal that Merseyside Police lost sight of Peter Chapman for far too long.

As a result, parents need reassurance that registered sex offenders are firmly in the spotlight – and not being allowed to roam the country in search of their next victim.