ORGANISERS of a scheme which holds convicted sex offenders to account and radically reduces re-offending is urging Burnham and Highbridge people to come forward as volunteers.

Due to the success of Circles South West, the project is expanding across the region.

Volunteers will be required to be part of a ‘Circle’ consisting of four or five members of the community who regularly meet the offender.

A Circle can help prevent further offending by working with the offender to support, but also to hold to account, by challenging attitudes and behaviours that signal a risk to the community with any concerns reported to the appropriate authority and acted upon.

Sue Mountstevens, Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset, described Circles as an innovative and successful community contribution to reducing sex offending. 

She said: “Circles is a superb example of what it is about volunteering that I find so inspiring.

"I believe that policing and community safety is far too important to leave to just the Police alone.”

 

Volunteers will receive professional training and support – details at circlesuk.org.uk or call 07738 947988.