Fifth man arrested as part of Crimestoppers’ Operation Return Campaign

One of Britain’s most wanted fugitives in Amsterdam has been arrested, following a campaign by crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers [5 January 2012]

Mark McKenna, 41, was arrested at the Hotel Melia Fenix in Madrid by Spanish National Police, and is currently being held in the Spanish capital pending extradition hearings.

McKenna, from Liverpool, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2005 for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, but absconded from prison in June 2008. His arrest took place at around 10.15am last Wednesday 28 December.

The 41-year-old becomes the fifth individual to be located since the charity’s Operation Return campaign launched in March 2010 with The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), Meld Misdaad Anoniem/’M’ (Dutch Crimestoppers) and Netherlands law enforcement.

He is the first to be located from a second batch of six individuals being sought, which were released to the public in June last year.

The campaign aims to identify fugitives wanted for serious crimes committed in the UK, but who are now thought to be in and around the city of Amsterdam.

Deputy Chief Executive for Crimestoppers, Dave Cording, said: “This is great news to begin a new year and is testament to the support the public continue to give us and the great work that the various law enforcement agencies are doing to bring fugitives to justice.

“This is yet another example of an individual who had nowhere to hide and I would urge those still on the run to hand themselves in, because they will eventually be caught.”

The remaining seven individuals wanted as part of the campaign includes some of the UK’s most dangerous criminals wanted for suspected crimes relating to drugs smuggling, the illegal sale of firearms, robbery and rape.

To see the remaining individuals wanted as part of the campaign please visit our Most Wanted pages if you wish to pass on information anonymously you can call 0800 111 555 or fill out our secure online Giving Information Form.

ENDS

For more information about Crimestoppers please contact our press office.

• 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 108,000 arrests and charges. Over £115 million worth of goods has been recovered and over £213 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.