New data has revealed figures for sex offenders and sex crimes in our area over the past year.

The most sex crimes in a month at Macclesfield Central was five in October 2020, when Macclesfield was under Tier 2 coronavirus restrictions.

Of all the police beats in and around Macclesfield, Macclesfield Central had the most sex offences from January 2020 to February 2021, with 42 reported crimes.

There was no correlation suggesting the number of sex crimes declining due to stay at home guidance imposed by lockdown.

In fact, Broken Cross and Upton saw the most sex crimes in a month with ten offences occurring during the second lockdown in November.

Broken Cross and Upton had the second most sex offences from January 2020 to February 2021 in the surrounding Macclesfield area, with 39 crimes.

Congleton West had the third highest figures with 38 sex crimes in the same period.

Of the six Macclesfield wards - Central, East, Hurdsfield, Tytherington, and West and Ivy - Macclesfield Hurdsfield was the safest with just 16 sex crimes over the 13-month period.

Five areas; Chelford, High Legh, Mobberley, Wilmslow East, Wilmslow West and Chorley, had the least sex offences with just four sex crimes.

Further data sourced via a Freedom of Information request disclosed that there are currently 81 registered sex offenders in Macclesfield.

This is a decline from 2019, when Macclesfield had 155 registered sex offenders.

The decline may be for a variety of reasons, perhaps taking into account the increased national death rate caused by COVID-19, leading to less registered sex offenders.

Additionally, any sex offender sentenced for 30 months or lower, does not have to remain on the register for their lifetime.

There are 1116 sex offenders in other areas of Cheshire, meaning our county currently has a total of 1197 registered sex offenders.

2019 data suggested our county had 1542 people who have committed sex offences against children and adults.

Cheshire Constabulary provided Nub News with the following statement when contacted: "Cheshire Constabulary, along with partner agencies, actively manages registered sex offenders.

"Each is risk assessed and dealt with according to the requirements of the Sexual Offences Act. Our top priority is the safety of the public.

"When we receive new information about the conduct of any of those individuals, the risk posed by them is re-assessed and action taken to maximise public safety.

"Where offenders breach legal restrictions placed upon them, they are arrested and brought before the courts.

"We also work with those offenders who want to avoid reoffending. Many sex offenders, appropriately managed, go on to live within communities without further incident.

"We do not comment on individual cases because publicity can damage appropriate management of the risks they pose.

"Where it is necessary for an individual's presence in the community to be made public, we act within the law to do this. These are difficult decisions taken on a regular basis by specially trained officers.

"Anyone who has concerns about an individual they believe is a sex offender should make the police in that area aware either through the non-emergency 101 number or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."