More than 160 violent criminals and sex offenders are at large in the community despite breaching the terms of their release or committing another offence, figures showed today.
Some 18 killers — 16 of them murderers — 10 rapists and at least four paedophiles are among more than 960 criminals in England and Wales who have been recalled to prison but have not yet been put back behind bars.
The Ministry of Justice figures for October to December last year showed 92 of the 4,017 offenders recalled to jail in that time had not been returned.
They remained free with a further 870 offenders who have still not been returned despite being recalled before October.
Of the 962 offenders who remained free, 361 have been on the run for more than five years, the figures showed.
A further 280 have been on the run for between two and five years.
