SAFETY CHECKS CUT ON FREED SEX OFFENDERS

Ministry of Justice officials have reduced the recommended number of home ­visits made to freed sex offenders in England and Wales to just four a year.

Two years ago, the same criminals would have been visited at least 12 times a year to ensure they were not re-offending after being released from prison.

High-risk offenders are those judged to have a “firm prob­ability” that they will be reconvicted of a sexual offence within five years.

In 2007, the National Offend­er Management Service recommended that “high-risk” and “very high-risk” offenders should be checked at least 12 times a year, “medium-risk” at least four times and “low-risk” twice yearly. New guidance from the Ministry of Justice keeps the number of visits recommended for very high-risk offenders at 12 a year, but reduces the ­others to four ­visits annually for those deemed high-risk, two for medium-risk and one for low-risk offenders.

Last night, justice minister David Hanson denied the public was being put at risk by the cut in home visits.

He said: “We want to make sure that those people who have committed serious violent offences or serious sexual offences are monitored in accordance with proper supervision.”

An extra £2.2million has been invested in improving offender supervision he said.

He added: “That is not the actions of a government that is trying to water down the system and water down ­protection of the public.”