Thousands of UK suspects in ‘high priority’ violent crimes remain at large

Thousands of suspects in violent crimes, including murder, remain at large months or even years after being sought by the police.

New figures released by UK police forces have revealed that 5,306 suspects in recent and historic crimes remain at large. Just over 3,000 of the warrants from the 24 police forces that responded to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the Mirror have been outstanding for more than nine months.

Some of the country’s biggest forces, including Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire Police, did not respond to the FOI request, so the national figures will be significantly higher. In Merseyside, 83 violent crime suspects remain at large, 51 of whom are suspected of offenses dating back more than nine months.

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Three of these historical murders are murders, dating back more than 10 years. However, despite dozens of serious suspects remaining at large, the force’s numbers are significantly lower than counterparts in the Metropolitan Police and Police Scotland. The Met, Britain’s largest police force, covering a population of almost nine million people, had the most important arrest warrants.

The force failed to arrest more than 2,000 suspects, with 1,456 criminal warrants over nine months, including 137 for murder. Police Scotland has 590 warrants of nine months or more for violent offences.

Merseyside Police said its fugitive squad was set up in 2019 to track people who continue to evade justice. The force said since its inception, officers have arrested 5,214 wanted people. Inspector Jane Oliver, who leads the team, told the ECHO: “We work closely with law enforcement partners, including other police forces, the National Crime Agency (NCA) and regional crime units.

“Our officers and staff also regularly run action days where more warrants are executed and mass media appeals are circulated which have been extremely successful in apprehending wanted individuals. Despite this coordinated approach, some criminals continue to evade detection and those 83 people identified. as being wanted by Merseyside Police for serious violent crime are of course high priority cases.

“The seriousness of their crimes is such that pursuing them is not just about getting justice, it’s about protecting our communities. The relatively low number of wanted offenders compared to other areas also points to our success in reducing violent crime in Merseyside.”

The force said recent government figures from January this year showed a 7.7% drop in crime across Merseyside. Inspector Oliver added: “My message to those people who are still wanted is this: wherever you are, however far you have run, we will not stop chasing you. Many times, the police and our law enforcement partners have apprehended criminals. months or even years after their crimes and bring them to justice.”

The Conservative Party has been accused of losing “all control of law and order” by its Labor counterparts. The Home Office declined to comment on individual cases but said handling outstanding warrants was an operational matter for the police.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “After 14 years of the Tories, criminals are getting away with it. Arrests have halved since 2010, and dangerous predators have been left on the streets. The Conservative Party has lost all control of law and order. Time to turn the page on the Tory murder mayhem.

“One of Labour’s core missions is to make our streets safe again. The next Labor government will reintroduce neighborhood policing and tackle the shortage of detectives through a new rapid recruitment scheme.”

If you have information on the whereabouts of wanted persons, contact @MerPolCC on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. If you see a wanted person where you are, call 999. More information here: I’m looking for | Merseyside Police

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