THEY had their chance to give themselves up but this week those who ignored the opportunity paid the price - and now face a Christmas behind bars.

Not even being sent a Christmas card by the police could encourage some wanted people to turn themselves in to the authorities - so instead officers came looking for them.

As reported in the Daily Echo some 200 cards were sent out by Hampshire police to criminals wanted for a variety of offences ranging from driving offences to serious assaults.

The message in the card urged them to give themselves up or expect a knock at the door and the prospect of Christmas in jail.

But only about ten per cent of those who were sent a card either surrendered at police stations or contacted officers to make arrangements to be interviewed.

Leading the operation PC Leon Simon said: "As a result of sending out the cards we had quite a good response rate with a number of people contacting us or giving information of where the person we are looking for had moved on to.

"We have given them the chance to come in voluntarily so now we are conducting a series of sweeps across Southampton to try and arrest as many of those who didn't respond as possible."

Today will see the last of the raids to round up those who ignored the goodwill gesture by police.

Scores of addresses across the city were searched by officers and as a result at least 11 more suspects have been taken into prison.

One of those was a 25-year-old man who was wanted on a warrant for firearms offences. He was taken from his home in Thornhill to face a night in the cells and a court appearance first thing today.

PC Simon added: "We want these people to know that they should hand themselves in as soon as possible under their own steam or else the police will come looking for them."