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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'More sex offenders' go missing | 'More sex offenders' go missing |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The number of registered sex offenders who are missing may have increased over two years, new figures suggest. | The number of registered sex offenders who are missing may have increased over two years, new figures suggest. |
| The figures, for three-quarters of the police forces in England, Wales and Scotland, were disclosed to the BBC after a Freedom of Information request. | The figures, for three-quarters of the police forces in England, Wales and Scotland, were disclosed to the BBC after a Freedom of Information request. |
| Data supplied by 38 police forces showed 317 sex offenders were reported as missing or unaccounted for. | Data supplied by 38 police forces showed 317 sex offenders were reported as missing or unaccounted for. |
| In January 2007, a significantly higher number of forces - 49 - reported that 322 sex offenders were missing. | In January 2007, a significantly higher number of forces - 49 - reported that 322 sex offenders were missing. |
| Figure breakdown | Figure breakdown |
| The force reporting the largest number of missing registered sex offenders was London's Metropolitan Police, where 112 have disappeared. | The force reporting the largest number of missing registered sex offenders was London's Metropolitan Police, where 112 have disappeared. |
| Other forces with high numbers include the West Midlands with 34 missing, Greater Manchester which has 18, Kent with 13, Northumbria which has 12 missing and Sussex with 10. | Other forces with high numbers include the West Midlands with 34 missing, Greater Manchester which has 18, Kent with 13, Northumbria which has 12 missing and Sussex with 10. |
| Registered sex offenders are required to inform police and probation officers of their addresses. | |
| A breakdown of the latest figures show 32 of the 43 forces in England and Wales responded to the request. | A breakdown of the latest figures show 32 of the 43 forces in England and Wales responded to the request. |
| From a total of 31,069 registered sex offenders in the two countries, 304 were missing. | From a total of 31,069 registered sex offenders in the two countries, 304 were missing. |
| In Scotland, six of the eight forces which replied reported 13 offenders had disappeared from a total of 2,829 on the register. | In Scotland, six of the eight forces which replied reported 13 offenders had disappeared from a total of 2,829 on the register. |
| The police service in Northern Ireland did not respond to the BBC's requests for information. | The police service in Northern Ireland did not respond to the BBC's requests for information. |
| Figures collated by the News of the World newspaper in January 2007 did include Northern Ireland. | Figures collated by the News of the World newspaper in January 2007 did include Northern Ireland. |
| The Home Office came in for heavy criticism when the newspaper published its figures last year. | |
| Child protection charities warned it was common for sex offenders to re-offend and the Conservatives blamed the government criminal justice databases for failing to keep track of offenders. |