THE number of sex and violent offenders in Essex has risen according to new figures, with police bosses insisting the force does all it can to monitor the criminals.

Data from the Ministry of Justice shows 1,867 people convicted of sex crimes were being managed under the Essex Police MAPPA system in Essex at the end of March this year, up from 1,684 the year previous.

The area has seen a year-on-year increase from 1,596 in 2020 and 1,496 in 2019.

The rate of sex offenders among residents in the area now stands at 114 in 100,000 people - up from 103 in 2021.

Sex offenders made up 81 per cent of those being managed through MAPPAs in Essex this year.

Essex Police says it’s dedicated team, called MOSOVO, works to protect the public from some of the county’s most dangerous offenders.

The figures also show there were also 406 violent offenders and 19 other dangerous offenders under the arrangements in the area.

South Essex has seen a number of cases of sex offenders convicted and jailed. In September Stephen Flynn, 53, of HMP Highpoint, was jailed at Basildon Crown Court for a string of child sex offences in south Essex.

Detective Inspector Rob Brettell, who leads the team in the south of the county, said: “Our work goes on away from the public.

“In the majority of cases, the people we manage go about their lives without creating any additional risk to the public.

“And because we carry out proactive checks, on the small number of occasions where someone isn’t adhering to the terms of their release, we’re there to ensure the public don’t come to harm.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “MOSOVO works to protect the public from some of the county’s most dangerous offenders.

“This team of dedicated, specialist officers work to manage the risk serious sexual and violent offenders pose to the community.

“This includes working with partner agencies to monitor and risk assess offenders prior to, and after, their release from prison to reduce the risk they pose to the public.

“They carry out proactive checks to ensure the people they are managing are adhering to the terms of their release and use specialist equipment to identify any offences, including polygraphs.”