MORE than 50,000 foreign nationals including convicted criminals and illegal immigrants have disappeared off the Home Office's radar, it emerged today.

A devastating report revealed that at the end of last year, there were nearly 56,000 "declared absconders".

2 The authorities have lost track of 50,000 immigrants to Britain, it emerged today Credit: PA:Press Association

This means authorities did not know their whereabouts, two reports from the immigration watchdog said.

A staggering 700 foreign national offenders were recorded as having absconded after being released into the community.

The assessments detail how 80,000 people who are liable to be removed from Britain are required to report to officials regularly rather than being held in detention while their case is determined.

The number includes those who have entered the country unlawfully, breached their original conditions of entry, face deportation as a result of committing a crime, and asylum seekers.

2 Amber Rudd is in charge of immigration policy at the Home Office Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Ministers acknowledged that parts of the reviews published by Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration David Bolt made for "difficult reading".

The reports warn there is "little evidence" that effective action is being taken to locate the vast bulk of absconders.

They also reveal foreign criminals can fail to attend meetings with staff on as many as 19 occasions before the alarm is raised.

And they detail how nearly a third of planned removals of criminals failed, with attempts often frustrated by last-minute legal challenges.