Daily roundup: Sex offenders, youth crime ambassador, and gang intervention

Child protection experts have called for a lower threshold for obtaining civil prevention orders against sex offenders. The Telegraph reports that a review by the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), found that the number of orders obtained by authorities is “grossly low”, compared to numbers of sex offenders. Research found that courts were refusing to grant the orders in some cases, particularly where suspected paedophiles had not been convicted of a criminal offence.

Cheshire’s elected police and crime commissioner has been called on to scrap plans to hire a £22,000 a year youth ambassador. The Nantwich News reports that councillors in the town of Nantwich said the duties should be carried at no expense to the taxpayer. Cheshire PCC John Dwyer has defended his plans for the new paid post, which has attracted more than 70 applications.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has pledged to push for more business and sport opportunities for young people escaping gang culture. The Waltham Forest Guardian reports that Duncan Smith said he would help a community interest company based in Walthamstow, which mentors around 60 to 70 young people in its efforts to steer young people away from crime.