Convicted rapists and paedophiles across the UK are being taken on ten-pin bowling and cinema trips in a taxpayer-funded scheme. The extraordinary soft-touch initiative means sex offenders who are freed early from prison are then escorted on recreational outings. The scheme, known as Circles of Support and Accountability, is already running in England and is being offered to councils across Scotland after an initial trial in Fife. As of July last year, there were 96 local programmes, known as 'Circles' - which consist of one offender and four to six volunteers - operating in England and Wales. The annual average cost per circle is £9,800 and on average, this amounts to £295,500 across England and Wales (including the cost of volunteers) each year.
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Sex offenders freed early from prison are escorted on recreational outings
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Volunteers recruited to ensure  offenders are not 'socially isolated'
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Mentors provide practical and personal support for 'lonely' criminals
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Scheme costs on average £295,500 each year in England and Wales
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96 local programmes or 'circles', consisting of one offender and four to six volunteers, in England cost £9,800 each
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Volunteers recruited to ensure sex offenders are not 'socially isolated'
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Now after an initial trial, scheme is being offered to councils in Scotland
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Original idea from Canada, where survey by country’s prison service found it reduced reoffending by 70 per cent
It is estimated that within five years around 100 sex criminals across @placeholder will be participating in the initiative.