Hampshire and Isle of Wight launches specialist fugitive team

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 12 Nov, 19:00 · Archive

Hampshire and Isle of Wight police have launched a specialist Fugitive Team based in Fareham to track and arrest high-risk offenders.

A new specialist police team has been set up to hunt down some of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight's most wanted and high-harm offenders. The Fugitive Team will focus on locating and arresting high-risk offenders, outstanding suspects and prolific criminals across the two counties.

Based in Fareham, the team will operate seven days a week and work closely with local policing teams and the Violent Crime Taskforce. Officers will use specialist analytics, intelligence and data to track suspects, as well as policing powers and tactics aimed at disrupting offending and protecting vulnerable victims.

The team has been funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, who announced extra funding for its recruitment earlier this year. She said the officers 'have been recruited to make sure our villages, towns and cities are safe from those responsible for causing the greatest harm'.

Jones added that the team would use 'specialist analytics, intelligence and data to relentlessly pursue and arrest persistent and high-harm offenders, outstanding suspects and prolific criminals', and that this would 'help safeguard victims, reduce risk, and offer reassurance to those living in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight that we're getting these criminals off our streets'.

Inspector Tim Williams, who leads the team, said its work would free up frontline officers to concentrate on issues in their local communities. According to the Southern Daily Echo, Williams added: 'I want Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to be a hostile environment for those who cause us most harm... My message to these criminals is clear: there is no hiding place. It's game over. We're coming for you.' The team is targeting both offenders currently in the area and those who have committed crimes and fled elsewhere.

How it is being reported

• Fugitive team launched to hunt Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s most wanted offendersHampshire and Isle of Wight police launch a seven-day Fugitive Team in Fareham to track and arrest high-harm offenders, suspects and prolific criminals.Basingstoke Gazette · 12 Nov, 17:00
• Fugitive team launched to hunt Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s most wanted offendersHampshire and Isle of Wight police launch a seven-day Fugitive Team in Fareham to track and arrest high-harm offenders, suspects and prolific criminals.Andover Advertiser · 12 Nov, 12:00
• New Hampshire fugitive team to target high-risk offendersA new fugitive team has been launched to track down high-risk offenders in Hampshire.Southern Daily Echo · 12 Nov, 03:30
• Fugitive team launched to hunt Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s most wanted offendersHampshire and Isle of Wight Fugitive Team launches in Fareham to track and arrest high-harm offenders, wanted suspects and prolific criminals seven days a week.Romsey Advertiser · 11 Nov, 13:07

In this story: Hampshire · Isle of Wight · Fareham · Donna Jones · Tim Williams

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