Hundreds of North East's 'most wanted' tracked down and arrested during lockdown

Hundreds of the North East’s most wanted fugitives have been tracked down and arrested during lockdown.

Northumbria Police said 367 people wanted for offences in the region have been arrested since April 15.

Those arrested include suspected burglars, armed robbers, fraudsters, stalkers and many who have been accused of serious assaults.

One of the Force’s top police officers has said that the restrictions put in place because of coronavirus had given officers an increased opportunity to focus on “high risk” targets.

Stay at home restrictions meant that police could target addresses and associates linked to the suspects.

Officers found that with fewer people using the road network, it also made it easier to identify vehicles being used by those on their ‘Most Wanted’ list.

Assistant Chief Constable Scott Hall praised the work of officers but reassured the public that the North East remained one of the safest places in the entire country.

The initiative to arrest some of the ‘most wanted’ fugitives in the Northumbria Force area continued at the weekend with Operation Bastion.

Over three days, the volunteers were able to locate and arrest 28 suspects for offences including domestic violence, affray, assault and burglary.

Police say you can report information on a wanted individual online by visiting the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website.

You can also call 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.