The latest collaboration between crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) to locate wanted fugitives believed to be hiding in Spain has seen a wanted man from Liverpool arrested [12 March 2012].

The latest collaboration between crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers and the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) to locate wanted fugitives believed to be hiding in Spain has seen a wanted man from Liverpool arrested.

Anthony Downes, who was arrested in Amsterdam, escaped from a prison van while being transported from HMP Manchester to Liverpool Crown Court in July last year. He had been facing trial for conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to cause damage with intent to endanger life.

He was convicted in his absence at Woolwich Crown Court and is due to be sentenced at the end of this week.

Downes, 26, featured as part of Crimestoppers’ latest Operation Captura Campaign in October 2011, which seeks to locate wanted fugitives believed to have fled to Spain, who are wanted by UK law enforcement agencies.

Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Founder and Chair of Crimestoppers, said: “This is yet another example of how criminals on the run will eventually be caught and I am delighted to hear that this individual has been arrested.

“Crimestoppers is seeing huge success with its fugitive campaigns and the fact that we now have 48 arrests out of 65 appeals from our Captura campaign proves that wanted criminals will eventually be brought to justice.”

Deputy Chief Executive, Dave Cording, added: “This arrest comes less than six months after the fifth anniversary of Operation Captura.

“Through close collaboration with the Spanish police, SOCA and the public, these individuals have nowhere to hide and those still on the run should think about handing themselves in before they are caught next.”

This latest arrest brings the total number of those located to 48 out of 65 appeals since the campaign launched in October 2006.

Operation Captura is the successful multi-agency campaign which identifies serious criminals believed to be on the run in Spain.

For those people calling from Spain there is a special 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 Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

ENDS

For more information on Crimestoppers please contact PR & Media Officer Giselle Lares on 0208 835 3737 or email giselle.lares@crimestoppers-uk.org.

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 23 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers. 
• Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over a million actionable calls, resulting in over 113,000 arrests and charges. Over £122 million worth of goods has been recovered and over £223 million worth of drugs has been seized. 
• 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 1,000 arrests to date. 
• 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.