Nearly 400 known sex offenders live in Kirklees, new figures show.
And the number has increased by a third in the last five years.
Three hundred and eighty-eight sex offenders were registered living in Kirklees as of April 1 this year – up 33% from 291 in 2009.
And the number in Calderdale has also risen by a quarter from 140 in 2010 to 175 this year.
The figures were released under a Freedom of Information Act request to West Yorkshire Police.
Det Chief Insp Sue Jenkinson, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “In many cases when offenders are subject to statutory registration as a sex offender, they remain so for many years and sometimes for life. As a result the number of people on the register will tend to increase year on year.
“It is also true that as awareness of sexual offending has increased in recent years, so have reports of offences, investigations and convictions, also contributing to a rise in the number of people registered as sex offenders.
“West Yorkshire Police has worked hard to ensure that officers tasked with dealing with such offences are appropriately trained and experienced in order to maximise the possibility of securing convictions.”
Det Chief Insp Jenkinson said registered sex offenders were monitored and managed under a Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangement (MAPPA).
She added: “Regular MAPPA meetings are held between partners to ensure they work effectively together to monitor and manage registered sex offenders in communities in West Yorkshire.”
The vast majority of offenders who commit crimes under the Sexual Offences Act – from voyeurism and exposure to rape and child abuse – are required to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register.
They have to notify the police of their name, address and other personal details and keep them updated if the details change.
Most offenders will be jailed for a period following conviction but will be subject to further controls on release.
The figures are subject to change as people move areas, die or are imprisoned.
The Child Sex Offenders Disclosure Scheme – known as Sarah’s Law – allows parents and guardians to enquire whether a person who has access to a child, is a registered sex offender, or poses a risk to that child.
Sara Payne, the mother of eight-year-old Sarah Payne who was murdered by a convicted sex offender in West Sussex in 2000, campaigned for the law.
Anyone who is concerned about a child and wants to request information under ‘Sarah’s Law’ should contact West Yorkshire Police on 0845 606 0606.
For more information about the Child Sexual Offender Disclosure Scheme see www.direct.gov.uk/keepingchildrensafe
