A website with pictures and information on the Thames Valley’s most wanted crime suspects has been launched in a bid to bring more criminals to justice.
The Most Wanted website is being launched on September 4 by independent charity Crimestoppers. Members of the public will be able to view pictures, E-fits and CCTV footage of people wanted by the police in the area.
The rogues’ gallery is online now at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/thamesvalley, and will be officially unveiled at the Thames Valley Police Open Day on Saturday at Sulhamstead in West Berkshire. Since its launch in 2005, the national Most Wanted website has already led to the arrest of more than 900 criminals for offences ranging from murder to rape, drug smuggling, robbery and assault.
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 bean 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.”
