Wanted offenders

Wanted - Anthony Gibbons

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Greater Manchester Police has reduced the number of wanted offenders by almost 50 per cent in two weeks.

The operation - code named Operation Sabre - ran across every division to target the 1610 outstanding offenders.

Police are now asking for the public's help in tracing the ones who have continued to avoid arrest (see photos for those wanted from Rochdale Borough).

There are now 915** (down 43%) outstanding for a variety of offences ranging from breach of license and criminal damage to some wanted for rape, assault, drugs offences and one man wanted for attempted murder.

Chief Superintendent Gerry Donnellan of Greater Manchester Police said: "During the past two weeks, there has been some fantastic work carried out across Greater Manchester and we have managed to reduce our outstanding offenders by half, but our work is far from over.

"The message I want to send to anyone who knows they are wanted is hand yourself in now because if you don't we will be coming for you soon.

"Anyone found to be helping those wanted could also themselves in trouble."

Each of GMP's 12 divisional areas have been working to target the offenders who had managed to avoid facing justice for their crimes and those who have been released from prison and gone on to re-offend or simply breached their licences.

Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney, said: "Those we have targeted do not deserve to have the freedom to walk the streets of Greater Manchester.

"I want our local communities to come together on this, work with us to clear these criminals out of neighbourhoods and make Greater Manchester a safer place to live.

"There will be a selection of our most wanted offenders on GMP's Wanted website so I would urge people to regularly visit as the person we are looking for may just live on your street or take the same bus as you.

"Any information you can provide to us, and you don't have to give you name, could be the missing link to finding these people."

Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: "We are seeing a significant reduction in crime this year and we want to build upon this through capturing those we have evidence against but whose whereabouts are currently unknown to us.

"I am sure the public will want to see people explain themselves before the law."

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 2019, call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.