HOME Secretary Jack Straw was today unveiling a new detention regime to deal with psychopaths and sex offenders that could solve the crisis surrounding an East Lancashire paedophile about to be released from prison.

The authorities and Bernard Snape do not want him to be released into the community without some form of accommodation and treatment.

But so far nothing has been arranged for the 64-year-old who was convicted of indecent assaults on children in August 1997 and has said that without proper supervision he will offend again.

However, when released in less than two weeks, he will be free to go wherever he wants providing he notifies his address to police.

Today, Blackburn MP Mr Straw, who has investigated the case since it was revealed by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, is announcing his intention to take national action to tackle the problem.

With Health Secretary Frank Dobson he plans to set up a "third service" outside of the prison and health systems to lock up those with severe non treatable personality disorders.

They would be covered by a new indefinite and reviewable detention order that would require them to undertake treatment and keep them out of society. These orders would apply to people leaving prison, those who had been in prison and have been released and those who have committed no offence that were considered to be a danger to the public.

The high profile cases of hammer killer Michael Stone who remained free until murdering Lyn Russell and her daughter Megan, despite pleading to be put in a mental hospital, and paedophile Robert Oliver, shuttled round the country since release from jail despite being considered a public danger, have increased calls for action.

And today a source close to Mr Straw said that the Snape case "illustrated the type of problems that the new orders are intended to deal with."

He said Mr Straw had been considering action for two years but the growing number of such cases, including Mr Snape, had convinced of the need to move swiftly.

Today's announcement will be followed by a consultation paper in the spring and the source said proposals were at a very early stage.

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