At least 500 convicted sex offenders are missing in the UK
At least 500 convicted sex offenders are missing in the UK – with Met Police admitting it has lost nearly HALF of them
- Metropolitan Police said it could not track 228, the most of any police force
Police have lost track of more than 500 convicted sex offenders they are supposed to be monitoring, according to a report.
Dozens are still missing, despite the police being required to log locations of all convicted sex criminals.
A roll call reveals that 503, including paedophiles and rapists, are still living alongside members of the public or have managed to escape the UK, The Sun reports.
The Met Police said it could not track 228, the most of any police force, according to the publication.
West Midlands Police said it did not know the status of 60 and Greater Manchester has not been able to find 32 offenders.
A roll call reveals that 503, including paedophiles and rapists, are still living alongside members of the public or have managed to escape the UK, according to a report (Stock image)
Only 27 police forces released figures following a Freedom of Information request by The Sun on Sunday.
In March, police figures revealed that hundreds of registered sex offenders have gone missing in three years.
Data obtained by the BBC using the Freedom of Information Act showed that 729 offenders vanished or were wanted for arrest between 2019 and 2021.
Separate figures from 21 forces showed 1,500 sex offenders had changed their name after they were convicted.
This is legal, but registered sex offenders must tell the police of the change or they could face five years in prison.
However, campaigners say it leaves abusers free to go on to re-offend in their new identity.
Della Wright waived her right to anonymity after being abused at the age of six by Terry Price, who later changed his name and targeted more children. She told the BBC that current criminal record checks provided a false sense of security.
She said the current system, which allowed Price to change his name twice, was open to abuse, adding: ‘It shouldn’t be for victims and survivors to beg Government to do something about this. We’re still having to ask in 2023.’
Lauren-Eden Sullivan, who was abused by her father, Shaun Dallisson, also waived her right to anonymity.
Dallisson was jailed for eight years in 2014, but has changed his name and moved to a new area after being released on licence.
She insisted registered sex offenders should be banned from changing their names, adding: ‘It’s not something that ever leaves the victim, so why should the person that’s done it be able to escape it so easily?’
Currently, the onus is on offenders to notify police forces of any change to their name or address.
If they change their name without telling police – which is an offence – they can get a driving licence and passport in the new name.
They can also get new criminal record checks, so previous offences go undetected.
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