Dozens arrested in fine-dodger swoops

More than 50 people wanted for outstanding fines and warrants have been arrested and thousands of pounds recovered during two days of police raids in Sandwell.

West Midlands Police carried out visits to dozens of addresses in the borough as part of a crackdown targeting people wanted for non-payment of fines and not cooperating with their community and court orders.

Identical raids were carried out in Walsall and Wolverhampton last week as part of the same national operation, with 116 arrests made.

About £23,000 in outstanding fines was also recovered.

The raids, which took place yesterday and on Tuesday, were carried out as part of Operation Crackdown, a national scheme aimed at tackling criminals who have outstanding community breach warrants, committal to prison warrants and unpaid fines.

Officers arrested 54 people over two days, with about £9,000 recovered in fines. Those that could not pay were arrested and taken to court.

The raids were carried out by Walsall police and officers from Her Majesty's Court and Tribunal Service.

People who were arrested were taken to a mobile police station site on the Asda car park in Tipton.

While there, they were given the opportunity to speak to addiction services staff, and advisers were on hand to provide support to people who may have drug or alcohol dependencies.

Sgt Helen Carver, who co-ordinated the operation, said: "To have brought so many outstanding prisoners into custody and produced them before the courts has been a real achievement for the teams working so tirelessly on this operation.

"This kind of work is done day in day out by the dedicated courts officers.

"However this targeted partnership approach, where teams focus purely on detaining outstanding offenders, has proved hugely successful.

"This kind of operation sends a clear message to those that do not comply with their community and court orders that we will catch up with them and bring them justice."