Bail cheats hit in crackdown

Bail and fine dodgers across Lichfield and Burntwood are being warned they face arrest in a series of operations to be staged in the run up to Christmas.

Addresses across the Trent Valley Division of Staffordshire Police are to be targeted in the latest joint operations code-named Operation Turn-up and Operation Payback.

Similar recent campaigns resulted in dozens of arrests, and now people in Lichfield and Burntwood who have jumped bail or failed to pay a fine, are being urged to contact their local magistrates' court - or face the consequences.

Teams of police and court enforcement officers are preparing to take part in the crackdown.

Operation Turn-up targets those who have jumped bail by missing court appearances.

Operation Payback is aimed at those who dodge fines and owe money totalling tens of thousands of pounds. If they cannot pay they could be arrested and put before the court.

Supt Paul Gallagher, head of the Force's Criminal Justice Department, said: "Victims and witnesses can be placed under tremendous strain when the cases in which they are involved in do not proceed because defendants have not turned up at court."