GLOUCESTERSHIRE Constabulary and Avon and Somerset Police are two of 39 police forces that were revealed to have lost track of convicted sex offenders.  

Figures released by 39 forces under the Freedom of Information Act show 394 sex offenders - who are supposed to notify police if they change address - are currently wanted because their whereabouts are unknown.

A Gloucestershire sex offender was found to have been missing for more than 10 years, the longest duration any of the 394 have been wanted. 

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

The locations of three sex offenders are unknown in Gloucestershire.

One particularly shocking case is an offender who has been missing for more than 14 years after disappearing in 2000. 

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said: "Protecting the public from sexual and violent offenders is a key role for the police service.

"Each sex offender who has gone missing is recorded as wanted on the Police National Computer and each case regularly reviewed for any potential leads as to the person’s whereabouts. 

"While we cannot comment in detail on individual cases, we do not believe two of these three offenders to still be in this country."

SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

The locations of six sex offenders are unknown by Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

It is believed by the police that all six of the missing sex offenders are now abroad.

Superintendent in charge of Offender Management, Intelligence and Safe Guarding, Carolyn Belafonte said: “Avon & Somerset Police along with partner agencies, including the National Probation Service, manage and supervise 1,240 registered sex offenders across our Force area.

“Six offenders are currently wanted by Avon & Somerset Police for failing to notify us of a change of address; we believe they are abroad and steps have been taken to locate them.

“We take managing our offenders very seriously. We have already rolled out IRiS in Bristol which is a team of professionals from different agencies who assist offenders who are at a high risk of causing serious harm to the public or their previous victims.

“We strategically prepare for an offenders release into the community, which is initially on licence and requires them to live under stringent controls.

“Offenders have weekly joint meetings between police and probation and may have conditions in place such as exclusion zones and may be prevented from living and working in certain areas.

“When an offender is missing, they become a wanted person. Routine and regular enquiries are made; previous addresses, known contacts and aliases are checked. Contingency plans are in place to notify and protect previous and potential victims." 

Statement from the Association of Chief Police Officers

"A large proportion of the recorded wanted or missing sex offenders are, following investigation, either known or believed to be living abroad or have returned to their country of origin. When registered sexual offenders (RSO’s) are missing or wanted in the UK, all police forces are alerted.  If they return to the UK, there are several processes in place to ensure that they are brought to the attention of police and arrested where appropriate.

"The UK has some of the most effective tools in the world to manage RSO’s. While the reality is that the risks posed to the public by such individuals can never be completely eliminated, there is significant evidence that the multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) successfully keeps them to a minimum.

"The new Sexual Harm Prevention Orders (SHPO) and Sexual Risk Orders (SRO) mean that, for the first time, we can safeguard children or vulnerable adults abroad as well as in the UK. Along with the Shengen information system (SIS II) these will significantly enhance the existing procedures and processes we have in place.”