A legal loophole has allowed around 1,300 to gain new identities, potentially leaving them free to carry on committing vile crimes. Last night ministers were urged to act on the scandal by making them apply to a court before being allowed a name change. In some countries criminals are forced to make an application before a judge.

But in Britain a convicted sex offender can change their name by deed poll.

It means they can bypass criminal checks and gain access to children through professions like teaching and easily obtain official documents like passports.

Emily Konstantis, chief executive of the Safe-guarding Alliance which uncovered the scandal using Freedom of Information laws, said: “If an offender wants to change their name while in prison, this can be done through the use of a private company offering an online service and costs as little as £15.

“Due to the ease, access, and little financial burden of this process, offenders are becoming quite nonchalant to being arrested, as upon and prior to their release they can start afresh.”

She added: “This process is making a mockery of the current legal system and leaving those most vulnerable open to abuse.

“This could mean an offender with a sexual offence conviction living at a new address, using a new passport and driving licence could obtain a clean DBS [Disclosure and Barring Service], allowing them to obtain employment within organisations working with children, young people or vulnerable adults.”

Tory MP Robert Halfon vowed to raise the issue in Parliament.

In a letter to Justice Secretary Robert Buckland he wrote: “We’re calling for the automatic right of convicted sex offenders to change their name by deed poll to be removed.

“They should make an application before a court – as well as a more joined-up approach between the relevant bodies, HM Prison Service, the courts, the DBS, schools and employers and interim measures to protect vulnerable children currently at risk.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “The failure of a sex offender to tell police of a name change within three days is a criminal offence with a maximum prison sentence of five years, and the Home Office reserves the right not to issue a document in a new name to a registered sex offender.”

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