DORSET Police have refused to identify two convicted paedophiles who are walking the streets unchecked after they lost track of them.

The child sex offenders went missing after being placed on the sex offenders’ register despite rules stating they should notify police of their whereabouts or any changes to their details.

Their existence came to light after a Freedom of Information request to the Home Office revealed 138 paedophiles are missing in the UK, two in Dorset.

But a spokeswoman for Dorset Police told the Daily Echo: “Dorset Police do not comment on individual cases or operational matters with regard to the status of such offenders or safeguarding methods.”

Among the offenders missing across the UK are Stephen Clare, who has been on the run from Brighton for 11 years after sexually assaulting a girl of five and taking indecent pictures of children.

There are currently more than 500 sex offenders being monitored in Dorset.

The spokesman added: “Dorset Police have a dedicated team of specially trained officers to manage registered sex offenders in line with statutory requirements.

“This unit works in close partnership with other agencies. The safety of the community is always a fundamental priority within such an area of work.”