Sex offender 'being freed to kill'

A dangerous sex offender is being released into the community despite fears he is likely to kill his next victim, a Chief Constable warned today.

North Wales Police chief Richard Brunstrom said there was nothing he could do to stop the criminal being freed from prison despite warnings that he would become a killer.

Psychiatrists have warned that the man, who has not been named, is likely to sexually assault a woman and kill her if he is released.

Mr Brunstrom told The Independent newspaper: "Because he is not mentally ill there is nothing that can be done to prevent his release.

"In this case, we are waiting for him to kill somebody so that we can arrest him.

"It is a ludicrous situation."

The Chief Constable revealed that there were four or five sex offenders living in North Wales whom he considered to be "extremely dangerous".

He added: "In my view, we are failing to protect citizens from dangerous offenders. We should rethink whether these people are allowed in society."

A spokeswoman for North Wales Police public protection department added: "This is not a situation that is exclusive to North Wales - it causes grave concerns to police forces the length and breadth of Britain.

"There is obviously a gap in legislation and this needs to be addressed."

The Home Office has announced plans to introduce a new scheme of sentences for sexual and violent offenders who have been assessed by the courts as dangerous.

The new sentences for dangerous offenders will be geared towards public protection and will ensure that dangerous sexual and violent offenders are not released until their level of risk is assessed by the Parole Board as manageable in the community.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: "Under the new provisions, offenders who have committed a specified sexual or violent offence (listed in Schedule 15 to the Act) carrying a maximum sentence of less than 10 years' imprisonment, and who are assessed as presenting a risk of re-offending, will get the new extended sentence.

"The court may include extended supervision periods of up to eight years in this sentence. Release during the second half of the custodial part of the sentence will not be automatic, but will be upon the direction of the Parole Board following an assessment of risk.

"The sentence of imprisonment for public protection will provide for the indeterminate detention of those dangerous offenders who continue to pose a serious risk of harm to the public."