Sex offenders unit to open

The police and probation service will work together

Police say a new unit targeting dangerous offenders will help stop them committing further crimes.

The Middlesbrough-based Violent and Sex Offenders Unit should be up and running in the next few weeks and sees police and probation staff under one roof.

Cleveland Police said it has 330 registered violent and sexual offenders living in its area.

Detective Sergeant Tina Robson said they hope bringing staff together will help them monitor any worrying signs in offenders more quickly.

Ms Robson said: "What we are looking for is the imminence of any violence, for instance they could have made threats.

"We have got to look at whether it is more than a throwaway threat, have they actually targeted someone? Is there a timescale? Is the threat serious?

"We come across violent people day-in and day-out in the police and probation and to pull together a multi-agency approach we have to deal with the critical ones."