WEST Yorkshire Police is launching a new operation targeting wanted criminals suspected of a variety of offences across Bradford and neighbouring districts leading up to Christmas.

The enforcement activity will begin today (December 4) and will see additional resources deployed across Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield, including NPT teams and officers from the Operation Jemlock team.

Many of the offenders are wanted by police for committing serious offences, and police want to reassure communities that the operation will bring outstanding suspects into custody.

The operation will be funded from money seized from criminals through Proceeds of Crime (POCA).

The aim of these intensive weeks of action is to detain and secure convictions for as many of these wanted individuals as possible and provide reassurance to not only victims of crime but the communities of West Yorkshire that the force is being proactive in ensuring their safety.

Assistant Chief Constable Pat Twiggs at West Yorkshire Police, said: “We hope with the additional resources assigned to this operation we can detain as many wanted suspects as we can to provide reassurance to victims and the wider communities across the county.

“We are funding this proactive operation with money seized from criminals through Proceeds of Crime and it is great to see this money being put to good use to not only help victims of crime but also target those who are involved in criminal activity.

“I want to reassure the communities of West Yorkshire who have been affected by criminality that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe and clamping down on those individuals who are evading justice.”

T/Superintendent Andy Cass, who is leading on this operation, said: “This is a new initiative focusing on assertive and proactive policing to those who are wanted and avoiding justice.

“I would urge those are evading justice to hand themselves in, if not the festive season in your households will be disrupted by a knock at the door by police.

“These individuals, some of which are wanted for serious offences, are going to be targeted in the coming weeks as we are putting additional resources on place to get on the front foot and quickly arrest outstanding suspects and bring them into custody.”