A LOT has been done in the past few years to try to deal effectively with the problems posed by sex offenders roaming the country.

The 1997 Sex Offenders Act set up a register and those whose behaviour is considered serious enough for them to be on it are supposed to fulfil strict conditions so that police can monitor their movements.

The measure was considered essential because of the number of sex attacks by people who were convicted in one town and simply moved to another to continue committing offences.

Just look at the concern in Shadsworth after residents discovered just such a paedophile living in their midst.

But what's happened to Derek Brakenbury makes a mockery of the intentions of the act.

The repeat offender was taken before Blackburn magistrates for not notifying police of his whereabouts.

But magistrates let him go free after being told that he could be found sleeping behind a town centre store!

There may be a problem of lack of accommodation for such people and that's something magistrates and police should be lobbying politicians about.

But by merely allowing a sex offender to wander the streets aimlessly without a proper address, magistrates have made the job of police much more difficult - and put our children at risk.