OPERATION RETURN - Crimestoppers UK announces new fugitive campaign

Following the success of the Spanish fugitive campaign, Operation Captura, the crime-busting charity, Crimestoppers, is today announcing that it is now appealing to the public to help identify six UK criminals known to be on the run in the Netherlands. [16 March 2010]

Operation Return is a multi-agency campaign involving the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), Crimestoppers UK, Meld Misdaad Anoniem/’M’ (Dutch Crimestoppers) and Netherlands law enforcement. It aims to identify six fugitives wanted for serious crimes committed in the UK but now known to be in and around the city of Amsterdam.

The list includes some of the UK’s most dangerous criminals wanted for crimes relating to drugs smuggling, the illegal sale of firearms, robbery, violence and rape.

Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chair of Crimestoppers, said: “These criminals think they’re safe hiding in the Netherlands, but it takes only one call to Crimestoppers to bring them back to the UK to face justice. We need the public’s help to catch these fugitives so please contact Crimestoppers anonymously if you know anything by telephoning 0800 7000 in the Netherlands or 0800 555 111 in the UK. Alternatively people can visit our website to pass on information.”

Dave Cording, Crimestoppers’ Director of Operations, added: “We are hoping that the public respond as well to this appeal as they have done for our campaign in Spain, which has resulted in a high number of arrests. This success has proved that there is no safe hiding place from the eyes of the law and with the public’s help we can flush out these dangerous criminals from wherever they are hiding.”

David Armond, International Director for SOCA, commented: "Our experience in Spain proves that these campaigns make ex-pat communities a hostile environment for UK fugitives. We have already achieved some outstanding results with our Dutch partners; this appeal aims to build on this success and ensure that the Netherlands is not seen as an easy hiding place for UK criminals."

Liesbeth Huyzer, Police Commissioner for Amsterdam-Amstelland (member of the board and responsible for the criminal investigation department) said: "We are already very successful in arresting British fugitives. In the last one and a half years we arrested 23 of them. We don't want these criminals to hide out in our region and that's why we are asking the help of the public to get information to arrest more of these fugitives.”

Members of the public are encouraged to visit the Crimestoppers Most Wanted to view the six appeals.

Further information
For further information contact Crimestoppers' press office.

Notes to editors

• Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes, making communities safer. It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number 0800 555 111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use our ‘giving information’ form via our website www.crimestoppers-uk.org
• Around 20 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers. One person every six days is charged with murder. 
• Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over a million actionable calls, resulting in over 97,000 arrests and charges. Over £111 million worth of property has been recovered and over £180 million worth of drugs. 
• In 2005, Crimestoppers launched the UK’s Most Wanted on its website which allows the public to view images of criminals and pass on vital information about their whereabouts. It has been highly successful with over 845 arrests to date from 3,788 thousand appeals posted. 
• Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers ‘call to action’ is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.