NINE registered sex offenders in Wales are missing from their respective police force areas - including two in Gwent - according to figures obtained as a result of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

Gwent Police said that one disappeared in January, while the other had gone missing during 2013.

Forces which provided figures for February or early March said the information was "dynamic" and will change as arrests are made or new cases come to light through "proactive intelligence led policing or routine visits to registered offenders".

Every force to respond refused to name the missing sex offenders over fears of vigilante attacks or because the information was exempt under data protection laws.

South Wales Police said the whereabouts of four registered sex offenders were unknown but did not reveal the length of time they had been missing.

Dyfed Powys Police said one registered sex offender was missing but refused to say when their whereabouts became unknown.

North Wales Police said two registered sex offenders were wanted because their whereabouts were unknown. They went missing in 2011 and 2013.

London had the largest number of missing registered sex offenders, with the Metropolitan Police saying the whereabouts of 167 were unknown, and the longest period of time an offender had been missing was 14 years.

West Midlands Police said 39 registered sex offenders were classed as missing. They included one who disappeared in 2006, nine offenders who went missing between 2010 and 2012, another nine who had been missing since 2013, 14 since 2014 and six since 2015.

Greater Manchester Police said 25 registered sex offenders were missing, including one who disappeared in September 2005, three in 2006, one in 2008, four in 2009, three in 2010, one in 2011, three in 2012, one in 2013, six in 2014 and two in 2015.