Convicted paedophiles on the run

Greater Manchester Police has lost track of seven paedophiles, sparking fears they may have left the country, it has been revealed.

Neighbouring Lancashire has five child sex offenders they are looking for.

Government figures show nationally a total of 137 child sex offenders have disappeared after signing the sex offenders' register, which requires them to inform police of their whereabouts or any changes to their details.

Children's charity the NSPCC has called for a system which makes it impossible for sex offenders to 'vanish'.

Jon Brown, head of sexual abuse programmes at the NSPCC, said: 'This is an extremely worrying situation as anyone who has committed a sex offence against a child must be considered an on-going risk.

'Keeping track of their movements has to be a priority for the authorities because we can’t gamble with the safety of vulnerable children.

'We really must have a system where no one with a record of this kind of offence can just vanish. It’s not acceptable and is a serious cause for concern.'

A Home Office spokesman said: 'We have some of the toughest measures in the world to manage violent and sexual offenders.

'We are determined to do everything we can to protect the public which is why last year we introduced new measures to strengthen and extend checks on those subject to the Sex Offenders’ Register.

'Individuals who breach their conditions are subject to tough penalties and the police and other local agencies should robustly enforce the tools and powers available to them.'