WIREDGOV

A 13 ft high digital screen broadcasting the faces of Britain’s Most Wanted fugitives is on tour around British ex-pat hot spots in Spain.

It’s the latest push by crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers and the National Crime Agency to track down the 18 remaining individuals wanted as part of Operation Captura.

The fugitives are wanted by UK law enforcement agencies in connection with crimes including murder, rape, indecent assault of a child and drug trafficking.

They are believed to be hiding among British communities in popular ex-pat areas – including Benidorm, Malaga and Puerto Banus.

The digital screen, attached to the back of a van, is touring all these areas and parking outside nightclubs, bars, British supermarkets and restaurants.

It is hoped that going direct to the fugitives’ back yards and putting their faces in plain sight will help to flush them out.

Steve Reynolds, NCA Deputy Director, said: “We’ve caught 68 out of 86 fugitives on the Captura list and the rest know we won’t stop until we catch them too.

“By taking our campaign directly into Spanish communities where we believe they are living and socialising, their lives will become even more uncomfortable. We want British expats and locals to help us by being extra eyes and ears and telling us what they know.

“These fugitives are wanted for serious crimes. Anyone who is helping them stay on the run, such as girlfriends, wives, family members back home, or criminal associates, should know that assisting them is an offence too.

“There may also be people in the UK with vital information on the whereabouts of these fugitives and we would urge them to get in touch.”

Roger Critchell, Director of Operations for Crimestoppers, added: “This is something that we have never done before but we believe that broadcasting these fugitives’ faces right in their back yards will not only encourage the public to speak up but show these individuals that there really is nowhere to hide.

“There will be no avoiding the faces on this screen – they’ll be broadcast in all the popular ex-pat areas.

“I would urge anyone who recognises any of those faces to contact Crimestoppers anonymously. We don’t take personal details and you won’t have to give a statement or go to court.

“Many of these fugitives are currently living a life of leisure funded by serious crime. They cannot be allowed to hide forever, they must be brought to justice. Do the right thing and help us find them.”

Captura, a multi-agency initiative between Crimestoppers, the NCA and Spanish authorities, is now in its ninth year.

A fresh appeal in March this year saw three fugitives captured within a matter of weeks.

Convicted killer Shane Walford, 38, from Coventry, was detained in the Canary Islands in March – just days after the appeal.

Paul Monk, 54, from Romford, Essex was arrested in April at his home in Alicante, Spain. He was wanted for drugs offences. Jason McDonald, 37, originally from Bristol, was picked up by police at an apartment in Amsterdam hours later. He was also wanted for drugs offences.

Crimestoppers and the NCA work closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Madrid and with British and Spanish law enforcement agencies as part of the campaign.

More information on the remaining 18 fugitives and how to pass on information to Crimestoppers can be found in our Most Wanted gallery.