NINE sex offenders are on the wanted list in the region after going missing.

The list includes three from the Cleveland Police area, one from Durham and five in Northumbria, according to a Freedom of Information Request by Sky News.

It said nationally the figure was 485, including individuals with convictions for rape and indecent assault.

Once convicted and placed on the sex offenders’ register, offenders are required to keep police up to date with their whereabouts in order that they can be monitored.

Michelle Skeer, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for the management of sexual offenders, said: “The number of recorded wanted or missing sex offenders represents less than one per cent of the total and a proportion of these are either known to be living abroad or have returned to their country of origin.

“When registered sex offenders are wanted in the UK, all police forces are alerted. If they return, there are processes in place to ensure that they are brought to the attention of police and arrested.”