There are apparent difficulties in developing a more productive dialogue with communities about sex offenders in a climate of distrust. There is an ever-increasing spiral of exclusion and "tougher punishment." This produces heightened anxiety and the demonization of sex offenders. This is an unproductive and ineffective approach to the risk management of sex offenders, resulting in vigilante action and sex offenders retreating "underground." This will create a core of sex offenders beyond the bounds of natural community surveillance that will require increasing resources to manage them in place. Risks are bound to outstrip the professional resources available to manage them. An alternative approach is to aim at developing a partnership between professionals and the public, in which communities have an active and appropriately regulated part in the management of sex offenders alongside professionals. This needs to be placed within a broader strategy of public education and communication that emphasizes a national educative campaign on the extent and nature of sex offending against children; joint work in local communities to develop locally sensitive strategies for the management of sex offenders; and educative campaigns for communities, parents and children, with an emphasis on prevention. This will require a carefully coordinated policy at both national and local levels; and need further evaluative work to identify the most effective communication strategies. Effective risk management requires trust, and trust comes out of transparency, accountability, and good governance. Public trust in the professional management of sex offenders in the community can be enhanced only by increased attention to these key features of any effective risk management system. 6 notes, 86 references