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Police lose track of 485 registered sex offenders across Britain
By David Mercer, News Reporter
Police have lost track of 485 registered sex offenders across Britain including rapists and paedophiles, Sky News can reveal.
Figures released by 41 forces revealed the number of convicted sex offenders whose whereabouts are unknown has risen by more than 20% in the last three years.
Rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse of children were among the crimes committed by the missing offenders, including some who disappeared more than a decade ago.
It comes as victims of black cab rapist John Worboys fight the decision to release him from prison after he spent less than a decade behind bars.
Sky News submitted Freedom of Information requests to the UK's 45 police forces asking for details of registered sex offenders whose whereabouts were unknown.
Four forces did not respond, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), meaning the actual number of registered sex offenders who are missing is likely to be higher.
Forces refused to name the missing sex offenders, with most saying it would breach the Data Protection Act.
Britain's biggest force, the Metropolitan Police, said it did not know the whereabouts of 227 registered sex offenders, including 38 who had been missing for at least eight years.
Read more on: https://news.sky.com/story/police-lose-track-of-485-registered-sex-offenders-across-britain-11281632
By David Mercer, News Reporter
Police have lost track of 485 registered sex offenders across Britain including rapists and paedophiles, Sky News can reveal.
Figures released by 41 forces revealed the number of convicted sex offenders whose whereabouts are unknown has risen by more than 20% in the last three years.
Rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse of children were among the crimes committed by the missing offenders, including some who disappeared more than a decade ago.
It comes as victims of black cab rapist John Worboys fight the decision to release him from prison after he spent less than a decade behind bars.
Sky News submitted Freedom of Information requests to the UK's 45 police forces asking for details of registered sex offenders whose whereabouts were unknown.
Four forces did not respond, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), meaning the actual number of registered sex offenders who are missing is likely to be higher.
Forces refused to name the missing sex offenders, with most saying it would breach the Data Protection Act.
Britain's biggest force, the Metropolitan Police, said it did not know the whereabouts of 227 registered sex offenders, including 38 who had been missing for at least eight years.
Read more on: https://news.sky.com/story/police-lose-track-of-485-registered-sex-offenders-across-britain-11281632