Four removed from sex offenders register in Suffolk

Mr Passmore said the "floodgates could open" as a result of changes in the Sexual Offences Act

Four people in Suffolk have successfully applied to be removed from the sex offenders register following a change in the law last year.

Suffolk Police said two of them had been convicted of rape, but under the Freedom of Information Act, they could not give further details.

The force said the four offenders no longer posed a risk to the public.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk police and crime commissioner, said serious offenders should remain on the register.

The courts have the power to put convicts on the Sex Offenders Register for life, but, following a test case brought against the government, they could now apply to be taken off it after 15 years.

In 2010, the UK's Supreme Court ruled that keeping people on the register for life was incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

'Floodgates'

The government amended the Sexual Offences Act last year to reflect the ruling.

Det Supt Alan Caton, from Suffolk Police, said: "In these four cases officers at Suffolk and representatives from partner agencies were content that the applicants no longer posed a risk to the public.

"Members of the public should be reassured that sex offenders who we believe continue to pose a risk will remain on the register."

Mr Passmore said the police were following regulations, but the government needed to look at changing the law.

He said: "I am concerned there could be a significant increase in the number of convicted offenders applying to be removed from the register - the floodgates could open.

"For serious offences like rape, I don't understand why they would be taken off the register and if you were a victim you would feel aggrieved.

"If we had our own UK Bill of Rights replacing the ECHR, then this situation wouldn't occur."

The Home Office spokesman said, that following the Supreme Court ruling, the UK would have to leave the ECHR before the law could be changed.