768 criminals wanted by Hampshire Constabulary are on the run

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show officers have failed to track down 768 people with outstanding arrest warrants.

The Daily Echo investigation also found 115 of these suspected criminals are wanted for some of the most serious crimes.

These include 49 wanted for violence against the person, as well as fraud and forgery (15 people), drugs (12), theft and handling (11), burglary (six) and criminal damage and arson (two).

Hampshire police last night defended its record and said it caught 73 per cent of category A suspects – those considered the most dangerous – in March and that its officers successfully executed 80 per cent of all warrants issued by the courts.

They’ve also recently managed to catch a man wanted on a warrant dating back to 1990 who had changed his named and moved to another part of the country.

However, Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne said the Echo’s findings showed that the force must make catching these alleged crooks a priority.

“It will rightly concern people that hundreds of wanted suspects are currently evading police,” the Lib Dem home affairs spokesman said. “It should be a priority for the police to catch these people.”

Mr Huhne said police priorities had been distorted by a glut of unnecessary targets and red tape.

“The Government should let the police get on with what they do best – catching criminals,”

he said.

Arrest warrants are issued when a person accused of committing a crime fails to turn up in court.

Police repeatedly refused to provide a complete breakdown of crimes, except to say no murderers were on the list.

The FOI request showed that as well as the alleged category A offenders, there were 398 category B outstanding arrest warrants for crimes such as shoplifting and assault. There were also 268 category C outstanding arrest warrants for low level crimes such as driving without insurance.

Supt Robin Jarman, head of Hampshire’s Criminal Justice Department, said: “Catching criminals and managing offenders is a priority.

“Tracing and arresting suspects or offenders who evade the law and are wanted on a warrant is part of our ongoing daily business.”

Supt Jarman said the number of outstanding warrants was constantly monitored and the figure changed daily. He added: “We’ve reduced this number in past years and are confident of making further reductions in the coming year.”