Sex offenders to be monitored

Convicted sex offenders in Northern Ireland will have to notify police of where they live and if they change their names, under new legislation that came into force this week. The Sex Offenders Act (1997) will apply to those offenders currently serving a prison or community sentence for a relevant offence. In a statement, the Northern Secretary, Dr Mo Mowlam, said supervision of sex offenders in the community was the best way of reducing the risk of reoffending.