A WARRINGTON Guardian investigation can reveal the total number of sex offenders that are living in the town.

Warrington Guardian: Cheshire Police have confirmed the number of offenders living in WarringtonCheshire Police have confirmed the number of offenders living in Warrington (Image: Cheshire Police)

The Warrington Guardian's request for information asked Cheshire Police to reveal the number of sexual offenders in the town, as well as the number of offenders in each of the Government's categories for sexual offences.

In the response, Cheshire Police explained how many individuals are monitored as Level One, Level Two, or Level Three offenders.

The Warrington Guardian can reveal that there are 358 individuals in Warrington on the sex offenders register.

When asked, Cheshire Police broke down the number into the following categories:

  • Level One offenders - 353
  • Level Two offenders - 2
  • Level Three offenders - 1

Cheshire Police explained that there is a data caveat with the numbers as two of the individuals included in the total number are subject to a 'sexual risk order' or a 'potentially dangerous person' order.

Warrington Guardian: More than 350 sex offenders are registered with Cheshire Police as living in WarringtonMore than 350 sex offenders are registered with Cheshire Police as living in Warrington (Image: Cheshire Police)

According to Unlock - a charity that helps those with criminal records - the categories of monitoring mentioned above mean the following:

  • Level One: Involves normal agency management (cases with a low-medium risk of serious harm to others). This will be either the probation service (for people on community orders or on licence following release from prison) or the police (for registered sex offenders).
  • Level Two: Often called local inter-risk agency management (cases with a high or very high risk of harm to others). MAPPA meetings take place to develop a coordinated plan between the police, the probation service and other agencies.
  • Level Three: Known as Multi-Agency Public Protection Panels. Only a relatively small number are categorised at this level – normally because they are either considered particularly dangerous or their case has received a lot of media coverage.

Anyone cautioned or convicted of a sexual offence will be put on the Sex Offenders' Register, this includes anyone who commits a sexual offence on the internet. 

What constitutes 'sex offender' does not automatically mean 'paedophile.'

Warrington Guardian: A jail term of more than 30 months means an individual will remain on the register indefinitelyA jail term of more than 30 months means an individual will remain on the register indefinitely (Image: Canva)

Stop it Now, a charity that helps prevent child sexual abuse, says: "Under the Sexual Offences Act, all those on the sex offenders register must register with the police within three days of their conviction or release from prison.

"If you are convicted, you will be required to go to your local police station and sign the register. If you do not register, you will be charged with another criminal offence."

Individuals are put on the Sex Offenders' Register for differing lengths of time, depending on the type of offence:

  • A jail term of 30 months to life - remain on the register indefinitely
  • A jail term of 6 to 30 months - registration for 10 years
  • A sentence of less than 6 months - on the register for seven years
  • A community order sentence - on the register for five years
  • A caution issued - on the register for two years