A TEAM of police officers involved in managing high-risk offenders has won an award.

Five members of Durham Police's public protection unit (PPU) received gold service accreditation following an inspection by the Home Office.

Sergeant Pete Mullings and PCs Christine Cuthbertson, Barbara Parking, Denise Riley and Ian Haddick work with the probation, youth engagement and prison services, dealing with risk assessment and management of inmates nearing the end of prison sentences, including many sex offenders.

They also monitor more than 400 registered sex offenders who have the potential to reoffend.

Their work involves updating police national computer and intelligence databases. The unit's remit also covers violent criminals, who may still pose a risk to the public.

Durham was one of six areas visited by the Home Office team, led by Professor Hazel Kemshall, a leading figure in community and criminal justice studies, from Leicester's de Montfort University.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Pearson, who heads the force's vulnerability units, said the PPU's joint working arrangements had proved instrumental in several high-risk offenders being recalled to prison after concerns were raised over their activities.

The PPU is based at Forest House, near force headquarters, at Aykley Heads, Durham.