HUNDREDS of suspected criminals are on the run for offences ranging from rape to assault – but we’re not allowed to know who they are.

There were a total of 923 outstanding warrants in the Avon and Somerset Police force area at the start of August, a Freedom of Information response reveals.

An arrest warrant is a document signed by a judge or magistrate authorising police to arrest a named person or people.

The police have refused our request to name the individuals or supply pictures, saying they are “exempt from disclosure as the information is deemed personal”.

Six suspected rapists are still on the loose, with 27 more warrants for sex offences still live.

The most prolific category of crime involves thefts (194), which includes burglary, robbery and shoplifting. Motoring offences accounted for 150 people the police have failed to arrest, with drink driving and driving while disqualified the most common reasons cited.

Assaults and violence are behind 115 of the warrants, with a further 28 people sought in connection with criminal damage, 23 for threatening behaviour or threats to kill, six for wounding and 17 warrants for possession of weapons, including guns and knives.

Officers have permission to arrest 81 people for possessing, supplying or producing drugs.

A further 69 suspects are still on the loose for breaching court orders and there are 40 warrants in place for fraud. One person officers are trying to track down is wanted for bigamy.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said concerted efforts are being taken to track down the suspected offenders.

He said: “During 2017, there have been force-wide proactive warrant operations planned to reduce the number of outstanding warrants. Avon and Somerset has also invested in training 40 special constables with bespoke warrants training.

“In addition, a long-term plan and process review has been devised by the force, also taking into consideration changes in the Police and Crime Bill. This will be implemented to further reduce the number of outstanding warrants going forward.”

According to the FOI response the longest outstanding warrant involves a fraud and forgery case from April 2015, with two European arrest warrants and a warrant for drugs offences from the same year.