More than 2000 suspects are on the run

2.55.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 20th Oct 2008

YORKSHIRE POST EXCLUSIVE: More than 2,000 suspects are on the run from Yorkshire police forces - wanted for crimes including rape, paedophilia, attempted murder and drug dealing.

By Rob Preece

17 October 2008

Figures obtained by the Yorkshire Post show that 354 fugitives, including at least 41 foreign nationals, are suspected of Category A crimes - the most serious in the statute book.

Warrants are outstanding for offences ranging from sex crimes such as rape, sexual assault and possessing indecent images, to violent crimes including attempted murder, making threats to kill and assault causing grievous bodily harm.

At least 90 of the region's most dangerous offenders have been at large for more than five years, with one suspect having evaded capture since 1994.

Foreign police forces, as well as other authorities in the UK, have been called on to help officers in Yorkshire catch them.

Phil Willis, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said he would ask Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to explain the "alarming" figures.

"If it wasn't so serious it would be genuinely humorous," he said.

"To have 2,000 potential criminals at large is an alarming statistic.

"Why hasn't this come to light before? Why don't these figures appear in the annual statistics of the police authorities, and what steps are being taken not only by the local police force but also by the Home Office to make sure these potential criminals are brought to justice?"

The total number of warrants outstanding in Yorkshire is 2,019, including 946 issued for Category B crimes and 702 for less serious Category C offences.

Most relate to offences committed in West Yorkshire, where 253 suspects were wanted for serious Category A crimes on September 3 this year.

West Yorkshire Police were unable to outline the exact offences involved, nor specify the number of foreign nationals under suspicion, but officers confirmed that 82 suspects had been on the run for more than five years.

Sixteen Category A suspects had been missing for between four and five years, and another 15 had evaded capture for between three and four years.

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "There is a constant change in the number of warrants held and the force continues to research offenders with a view to tracing, arresting and bringing them before the courts."

In South Yorkshire, 32 were wanted for serious crimes on September 4 this year - almost half the 65 Category A warrants outstanding in the county.

Some Category A offenders have been on the run since 2001, and the force is still trying to trace 123 suspects for Category B and 148 for Category C crimes.

A suspect wanted for attempted murder is among 19 alleged Category A offenders, including seven foreign nationals, on the run from Humberside Police. And 84 are wanted for Category B crimes and another 130 fugitives are suspected of Category C offences.

In North Yorkshire, 17 Category A warrants were outstanding on August 31 for offences including rape and arson.

They included two foreign nationals and four suspects who had been at large for between seven and 14 years.

There were 86 outstanding warrants for Category B offences and 71 for Category C crimes.