A HIGHER percentage of domestic abuse offenders are being brought to justice in North Yorkshire than anywhere else in the UK, new figures have revealed.

The MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) report for the region has shown more than 82 per cent of such cases in 2010/11 led to convictions, ten per cent above the national average.

Domestic abuse also fell in North Yorkshire and York during the year, accounting for 5.3 per cent of all recorded crime, while the North Yorkshire Probation area, which became a Trust in April 2010, was joint first in the UK for the way it protects the public and cuts crime.

The report said that, during the first eight months of the Child Sex Offender Disclosure scheme – which allows parents, carers and guardians to ask police whether somebody has a record for sexual offences against a child – operated in the region, 58 enquiries were made. Of these, 38 led to detailed checks, resulting in three disclosures of previous offences emerging.

MAPPA is designed to deal with the risk posed by the most serious sexual and violent criminals, and comprises police forces and probation and prison services. Groups such as social services, health trusts and youth offending teams are also required to play a part in its work.

North Yorkshire Police’s temporary deputy chief constable, Tim Madgwick, who also chairs the regional MAPPA group, said: “The partnership arrangements under MAPPA North Yorkshire and the City of York continue to go from strength to strength in protecting our communities from the risks posed by sexual and violent offenders.

“The strong links which have developed between the various agencies since the introduction of MAPPA and the use of the various tools available to us, such as the Child Sex Offenders Disclosure scheme and sexual offences prevention orders, enhances public safety even further.

“While the reality is that the risk posed to the public by such individuals can never be completely eliminated, the report provides evidence that MAPPA successfully keeps them to a minimum.”

Both the Southview probation hostel in York – which secured the highest audit scores possible - and HMP Northallerton also came in for praise through the MAPPA report.