15 sex offenders go missing in our area

Police have insisted they are doing all they can to monitor sex offenders — as it was revealed 15 were missing across Greater Manchester and more than 300 are missing in the UK.

Every force in Britain was asked by a newspaper how many registered sex offenders were missing in their area.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had the third highest numbers out of the 46 forces that replied.

The worst was London where 128 offenders were missing, followed by the West Midlands with 30 missing.

In total, the whereabouts of 316 sex offenders across the UK are unknown.

Det Chief Insp Dave Riddick, from GMP, said the missing 15 was less than 1 per cent of the total number of registered sex offenders in the area.

He said: “None of those that are currently missing are classed as very high risk.

“Protecting people is our priority and through the multi-agency public protection arrangements (Mappa) all serious offenders are rigorously managed and monitored by specially-trained staff.

“We know the impact these offences can have on victims and families and that is why Mappa in Greater Manchester is so important to us.”

Each police force has arrangements with agencies including the local probation and prison services under Mappa to monitor those convicted of sex crimes.

Chief Constable Paul West, lead on sexual and violent offenders for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: “The latest published figures, taken from the Mappa Annual Reports 2008–9, show that there are in excess of 32,000 registered sex offenders in England and Wales.

“The police service aims to ensure strict compliance with notification requirements, which include telling authorities of any intention to travel or any changes in address or circumstances.

“Regardless of this robust management, there will always be occasions when offenders fail to comply with their notification requirements.

“As soon as this becomes apparent they will be treated as missing and every effort made to locate them.”