Closing in on Britain’s ‘Costa crooks’
UK crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), are once again closing in on Britain’s most wanted known to be on the run in Spain. Ten new appeals, including some of the UK’s most dangerous child sex offenders, are launched today in Malaga, an area with a large British ex-patriate community where these criminals could be hiding.
The successful multi-agency campaign, Operation Captura, identifies serious criminals on the run wanted by UK law enforcement agencies for crimes committed in the UK. Since the campaign launched in October 2006, 23 out of 40 criminals have been arrested; many are now serving long prison sentences for their crimes which range from drug trafficking to sex crimes to murder.
Crimestoppers and SOCA work closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff in Madrid, British and Spanish law enforcement agencies. The campaign highlights appeals for information on criminals who have European arrest warrants issued against them. Information given to Crimestoppers can help locate these criminals so that arrests can be carried out by the Spanish police.
Operation Captura is primarily an online campaign working through the ‘Most Wanted’ section of the Crimestoppers website www.crimestoppers-uk.org where the public can view images of the individuals wanted by law enforcement.
Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers, said: “The public response to the campaign so far has gone way beyond our expectations in locating criminals and we hope that this continues with the latest batch of appeals. It makes me immensely proud as the founder of Crimestoppers that we are now having such a significant impact on an international scale.”
Dave Cording, Director of Operations, added: “These appeals include some very nasty individuals and crimes, and we need you, the public, to help us put them behind bars where they belong. Please don’t approach these individuals as they are known to be dangerous but if you recognise any of them or know where they may be located please contact Crimestoppers immediately; all information is taken in total anonymity.”
International Director for SOCA, David Armond, said: “SOCA aims to combat the harm caused by criminals who seek refuge living within our communities. Through our collaboration with Crimestoppers and our Spanish law enforcement partners, we have been able to extend this influence to the ex-pat communities of Spain and together we are seeing great success bringing criminals back to the UK to face justice for their crimes.”
Dame Denise Holt, British Ambassador to Spain said: “Ten new criminals who we think are hiding out on the Costa’s have been identified. The public and media response to the ongoing Captura campaign has been incredibly effective so far. We’re looking for your continuing help in putting these individuals behind bars where they belong.”
If people are calling from Spain there is a special freephone Spanish 900 555 111 telephone number which will be answered in the UK by Crimestoppers’ call agents and a translation service is available upon request. People can also pass on information anonymously via the online Giving Information form on Crimestoppers’ website.
