Councillors have decided on a new policy for rehousing dangerous offenders.

The policy, formalised at a meeting of the Vale of White Horse's Housing and Community Development Committee will come into play when the council is asked to help in finding accommodation for offenders in their area. However, committee members decided they should not be made aware of offenders' names, for fear of panicking local communities. The council stressed that no resettlement would take place unless the risks had been fully assessed and a management and support programme put in place by the relevant agencies, including the police and the probation service.

Councils have a duty under the Housing Act 1996 to provide housing for those with nowhere to live who are vulnerable and those in high social need. The key elements of the new policy are:

Early identification of offenders likely to be settling in the area

Sharing of information between all relevant agencies

Police to lead on issues of disclosure of names to the public

Assessment and management of risk

Provision of suitable accommodation.