More than 1,200 sex offenders have succeeded in getting themselves removed from the register, despite the fact they were placed on it 'indefinitely'.

A shocking 632 criminals who had their names taken off the list within the past six years had committed their crimes against a child under the age of 16.

They were allowed to do so under a change in the law in 2012 that granted criminals who had an indefinite notification to remain on the register to appeal after 15 years.

The staggering numbers were uncovered by an investigation by Good Morning Britain that was revealed on Wednesday.

A shocking 632 criminals who had their names taken off the list within the past six years had committed their crimes against a child under the age of 16

Pictured: Breakdown by area of the number of appeals and the amount granted

No longer being on the register means offenders don't have to tell officials about their movements, when they move house or spend more than a week away from home.

Some examples of those who had their names removed from the register include an attacker who raped a boy under the age of 13 and an offender who raped a girl under the age of 16.

Several forces would not comment if those who had their names removed from the list had gone on to re-offend.

Scotland admitted three went on to re-offend - one was a rapist who had 'extreme' pornography and another had taken indecent photographs of children, according to GMB.

A breakdown of appeals and the rate they were granted includes:

In Greater Manchester, 83 offenders appealed to have their names removed from the register and 44 people (55 per cent) succeeded in being removed.

Twenty-six (59 per cent) of those who were removed from the list had offences that involved a victim under the age of 16.

In Merseyside, 65 appealed and 45 people (​69 per cent) succeeded in being removed.

Thirty-three (73 per cent) of those removed from the list had offences that involved a victim under the age of 16.

In Cumbria, 20 offenders appealed and 17 (85 per cent) were successfully removed.

Eleven (65 per cent) of those removed involved a victim under the age of 16.

Denise Fergus, the mother of James Bulger, is outraged over the findings

Denise Fergus, the mother of James Bulger, is outraged over the findings and told GMB: 'I am disgusted that people are able to start a process to be removed from the sex offenders' register.

'The figures are very daunting when you look at each county and see the amount of applications that have been made and how many are actually successful in being removed from the register.

'Many of these are for offences against children and that child and their family will be victims for life, so why should the offender have the ability to be removed?

'Surely if you are put on the sex offender register for life, your offences are so serious you should remain on there for life.'