It is claimed that East Renfrewshire Council’s hands are tied on the matter as they are legally bound to supply homes to convicts when they leave jail.

However, council bosses and police say public safety is the highest priority, and each individual is closely monitored.

The Barrhead News source, who asked not to be named, said: “Nobody wants these kind of people in the town, and ideally they shouldn’t be.

“But the council’s hands are tied on the matter, as much as I would like to see them moved on I don’t think it will happen.

“At any one time there can be between 20 and 25 in Barrhead with varying convictions.” Council bosses were unable to confirm or deny the numbers revealed to the Barrhead News when we contacted them last week, saying that such a figure was strictly confidential.

It was also confirmed that East Renfrewshire Council is required by law to make help available to people leaving prison if they previously lives in East Renfrewshire.

A council spokeswoman said: “It is the legal duty of the council to make help with arrangements for the provision and appropriate supervision for offenders who come from East Renfrewshire when they are released from prison.

“This is the same for all councils in the UK.

“Social work, police and a range of agencies work together to ensure that each individual who leaves prison is closely monitored and housed appropriately.

“This multi-agency places public safety as its highest priority at all times. Information on those who are the subject of supervision orders is strictly confidential.

“There will be a number at any one time and the complexity will depend on the nature of the offender and the crime.” Police Scotland confirmed that it also works pro-actively with other agencies to monitor offenders in the area and public safety was its top-priority, but would not comment on individual cases or discuss numbers.