Thirty-three murderers, rapists and violent criminals who have been given life sentences are living in communities across Staffordshire, the Express & Star can reveal.

The criminals could be living in any street or town in the county under what is known as a life licence.

This is where they have served the minimum jail time set by the judge when they were sentenced and have convinced the parole board they are safe to be released. 

They remain on a licence for the rest of their life and can be recalled to prison if they step out of line.

The figures have come to light in the wake of a damning report into Staffordshire Police and its failure to protect the public by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). 

The IPCC found the force had suffered “systemic failures” in its handling of the case of Donna Wilson, who was stabbed to death by convicted killer Shaun Clarke in January this year in Burton-upon-Trent.

Clarke, identified as having a low risk of re-offending by the Probation Service, was living in Staffordshire on life licence after being released from prison in 2003 for murdering a woman in 1987.

The IPCC said opportunities to identify who Clarke was were missed and despite the police having a list of all life licensees in the county from Staffordshire Probation Service, officers had not fully checked their own records, thus missing another opportunity to spot Clarke’s current address.

Staffordshire Police has announced a further review into its systems for protecting the public.