Once the hunt for convicted rapist Kelly James Edney has resulted in his recapture, questions need to be asked at the highest level.

It is a fact of life that those who have served prison sentences must be allowed back into the community once they are considered to have repaid their debt to society.

But the public need to be reassured that criminals who have committed heinous acts such as rape are no longer a danger to the public when they are eventually given their liberty.

Edney had brutally raped a 16-year-old girl and also made a series of hoax bomb threats.

He was presumably considered to be ready for his return to civilised society, by virtue of the fact that he had been released on licence and was living in a bail hostel in Allerton.

What, then, changed the moment he walked out of the door of that hostel and decided he was not going to report back as he was supposed to?

When Edney absconded he was described by police as "a potentially dangerous sex offender" who was known to be "violent".

Those living near to the bail hostel - especially those with young girls in their families - will doubtless be wondering why a man who police now say should not be approached by the public was released on licence and allowed to live among them with a level of liberty to wander as he would.

Either Edney is safe to be out of prison or he isn't, and that is what now needs addressing by the authorities.