Thames Valley's "Most Wanted"

13 September 2010, 06:00

In just two weeks, nine of the "most wanted" people in our region have been arrested.

Thames Valley police have put online shots of those wanted for crimes like murder, drug smuggling and assault - after it helped catch criminals in other parts of the country.

The nine people who have already been arrested have been wanted for up to a year in connection with things like sexual assaults, thefts, burglaries and causing grevious bodily harm.

Since the website was launched at the start of September it's had over 10,000 hits from people in our region.

On the Most Wanted website you can look at pictures and computerised images and CCTV footage of people currently wanted by the police in the Thames Valley. 

The site is run by the charity Crimestoppers, which allows people to give information about crime anonymously by telephone or via the Crimestoppers website.

The Most Wanted site was launched elsewhere in the country five years ago, and has successfully resulted in the arrest of more than 900 criminals.

When the website was launched in the Thames Valley, John Gamon, Chairman of Thames Valley Crimestoppers, said:

“The Crimestoppers Most Wanted website has been most successful in helping to catch a criminal every other day. I am delighted that the Most Wanted website is now going to feature criminals wanted in the Thames Valley area.  

“It offers the public another opportunity to take a stand against crime. It not only helps locate criminals who have ‘gone to ground’ but also identifies people previously unknown to the police.  

“The concept is very simple: if you recognise any of the individuals featured on the website, pass your information on to Crimestoppers anonymously either online or by calling 0800 555 111. Simple but extremely effective, Most Wanted is going to be an invaluable tool to bring criminals to justice.”

Det Chief Inspector Ray Howard, head of Thames Valley Police’s intelligence bureau, said:

“Most Wanted has already proved itself to be a powerful tool in helping to identify, locate and arrest offenders.”

“The invaluable work of Crimestoppers, and in particular the impact of Most Wanted, shows how important anonymous intelligence is in helping to solve crimes. Often members of the public hold crucial information that can bring serious offenders to justice, and Crimestoppers and Most Wanted give them a mechanism to share that information and allow us to act on it.”