Valentine cards a crime success

Valentine cards and letters sent to bail dodgers by police across West Mercia, including Shropshire, proved a success, police chiefs said today.Operation Turn Up 2008 led to 66 people back before the courts after they were sent the cards and letters. A total of 193 people wanted on warrant were traced.

The operation was launched on January 28 and ran for three weeks. Police aimed to target offenders who had failed to pay fines or turn up at court.

Part of the campaign involved reminder letters and Valentine cards for people asking them to surrender.

Thirty-four per cent of people who handed themselves in did so after receiving a card or letter.

Chief Inspector Garry Higgins, from the West Mercia local criminal justice board, said: “We traced a total of 193 people as a result of people handing themselves in or visits by officers who found individuals.

“The force always has a number of people wanted on warrant who have skipped bail and our warrant managers across West Mercia are working throughout the year to trace them.”

They work with the Central Motorway Police Group and Her Majesty’s Court Service to bring offenders back to court.

“This is not the first time West Mercia Constabulary has run Operation Turn Up and I hope it will not be the last,” he said.

“We believe the campaign has raised awareness of the problem and encouraged wanted people to come forward.

“Offenders should realise they cannot evade justice forever and even though this year’s Turn Up initiative is over we will continue to search for wanted people. Our message to anyone dodging bail or failing to pay a fine is do the right thing.”