Nearly 500 sex offenders ‘missing in Britain’

The missing include rapists and paedophiles, including some who disappeared more than a decade ago, according to a Sky News investigation.

Figures released by 41 police forces show the number of convicted sex offenders whose whereabouts are unknown is 485, a jump of more than 20 per cent in the last three years.

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Russia has accused Britain of concealing evidence in the Salisbury nerve agent attack (Ben Birchall/PA)

Russia has accused Britain of deliberate concealing evidence in the escalating war of words over the Salisbury nerve agent attack.

The Russian foreign ministry head of non-proliferation and arms control insisted Moscow bore no responsibility for the incident and dismissed British demands for an explanation as “absurd”.

At a “briefing” for foreign diplomats in Moscow, Vladimir Yermakov questioned whether the incident, which left former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, fighting for their lives even involved a nerve agent.

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The BBC has agreed to keep the National Audit Office informed of the progress of the reviews (Anthony Devlin/PA)

The BBC has launched a new independent process to try to resolve a row with high-profile stars who claim they were pressured into employment arrangements which left them with huge tax demands.

The move could lead to the corporation making a contribution towards historic bills which in some cases run into five or even six figures.

It comes a day ahead of a hearing in the House of Commons at which MPs are expected to hear complaints that on-air presenters were encouraged by the BBC to be paid through personal service companies (PSCs), rather than as members of staff.

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