Five Suffolk sex offenders are missing, figures show

A rape charity wants a review of how the sex offenders' register is managed, after it was revealed five people on the list in Suffolk are missing.

Cath Elliott, from Suffolk Rape Crisis, says it is "shocking" people have vanished and wants Suffolk Police to take the issue "more seriously".

Ministry of Justice figures showed there were 584 people on the list last year, up 45 from 2011.

Suffolk Police said the five people had left the country.

Det Supt Alan Caton said: "They're wanted and if they come back to the country they will be arrested and put before the court.

"We share this information with colleagues in other countries so that they're aware that these individuals are there."

'Sense of fear'

Ms Elliott, volunteer co-ordinator for Rape Crisis, said research showed that women and girls feared rape and sexual violence more than any other crime.

"The news that there are sexual predators on the loose and not being monitored is bound to increase people's sense of fear," she said.

"I think policing is at fault, it's not being adequately monitored.

"The whole point of the sex offenders' register is so police can keep tabs on people to help protect the public."

Mr Caton accepted that one person missing from the register was "one too many" but he was confident the list was managed "effectively".

"I'm satisfied that we do all we can to manage those people that pose a risk in this county," he said.

It was the second year in the row the number of people on the register, which was introduced in 1997, had risen.

Figures on the Ministry of Justice website show that in 2010 there were 489 people on the register.