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| Sex offenders to be housed in jail opposite primary school | Sex offenders to be housed in jail opposite primary school |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Parents have threatened to remove their children from a school after a decision to house sex offenders at an open jail opposite, the BBC understands. | |
| The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said the men will be sent to HMP Thorn Cross near Warrington, Cheshire, by the end of the year. | The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has said the men will be sent to HMP Thorn Cross near Warrington, Cheshire, by the end of the year. |
| The head teacher said she was "deeply concerned" and parents have spoken of their "outrage". | |
| The MoJ blamed a rise in the number of convicted sex offenders for the move. | |
| The prison is opposite Appleton Thorn Primary School, which is five miles from Warrington. | The prison is opposite Appleton Thorn Primary School, which is five miles from Warrington. |
| Parents have told the BBC that they may switch schools and some whose children are due to start in September have now applied for other schools. | |
| One mother-of-four said: "I don't like the idea of sex offenders being in the community. | |
| "The prisoners do roam freely - they do catch the bus." | |
| Appleton Thorn Primary School head teacher Zoe Jones: "I am deeply concerned by this change in category of prisoner at Thorn Cross open prison, having been given assurances in the past that no sex offenders would be placed here. | |
| "This news has come completely out of the blue and the school was not consulted." | "This news has come completely out of the blue and the school was not consulted." |
| Former councillor Dorothy Edwards, 79, who has lived in Appleton Thorn for nearly 50 years, said: "I think this is a dreadful decision. | Former councillor Dorothy Edwards, 79, who has lived in Appleton Thorn for nearly 50 years, said: "I think this is a dreadful decision. |
| "This prison is just 20 yards from the school and parents at the school are worried about their children's safety. | "This prison is just 20 yards from the school and parents at the school are worried about their children's safety. |
| "Prisoners there have their own keys to their rooms and are allowed out to catch the bus to work or for education while children arrive at the school." | |
| Cheshire's Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane also said he had "serious concern" about the decision. | Cheshire's Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane also said he had "serious concern" about the decision. |
| A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Under this government more sex offenders are being convicted and going to prison, and spending longer there. | A Prison Service spokesperson said: "Under this government more sex offenders are being convicted and going to prison, and spending longer there. |
| "The ability to test men in open conditions as they approach the end of their sentence is a critical step in this. | "The ability to test men in open conditions as they approach the end of their sentence is a critical step in this. |
| "Anyone who is transferred to open conditions must pass a strict risk-assessment and can be recalled to tougher closed conditions at the first sign of any concern." | "Anyone who is transferred to open conditions must pass a strict risk-assessment and can be recalled to tougher closed conditions at the first sign of any concern." |