How police have used lockdown to arrest hundreds of fugitives from 'Berwick down to Sunderland'

Northumbria Police have today revealed that 367 suspects have been detained since April 15 alone with the list including suspected burglars, armed robbers, fraudsters, stalkers and attackers.

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

With fewer people using the road network, it has also made it easier to identify vehicles being used by those on their list.

Assistant Chief Constable Scott Hall praised the work of officers while reassuring the public that the North East remained one of the safest places nationwide.

He said: “This has been an incredibly difficult time for all of our communities that has seen us having to adapt to life amid a global pandemic.

“But it has also been an opportunity for us as a police force to protect the public in other ways, including an increased capacity to continue our focus on arresting high risk offenders.

“The stay at home restrictions have been a struggle for many of us but it has allowed us to target those suspected of causing the most harm in our community.

“It is harder to take cover or evade capture when the streets and roads are deserted and we have used that to our advantage.

“However, it still requires our officers to work hard and use their investigative skills to track down and arrest these suspects.

“They have done an incredible job and I want to thank officers across the region, from Berwick down to Sunderland, who have been involved in this activity.”

The 367 figure included 28 people arrested during last weekend’s Operation Bastion.

Among the offences the latest detainees were wanted in connection with were domestic violence, affray, assault and burglary.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of a wanted individual can contact Northumbria Police via the Tell Us Something page of their www.northumbria.police.uk website.

The public can also call 101 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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