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Police Scotland has continued its high profile crackdown on those wanted on warrant throughout the North and Northeast of Scotland.
More than 680 warrants have now been executed and over 340 people arrested during the successful warrants initiative,Operation DEKA, a high-profile enforcement by Police Scotland to crackdown on those wanted on warrant. Fine defaulters with an accumulated debt of over £65,500 have also been dealt with.
Officers started the campaign on 1st September 2014, and have been working in partnership with representatives of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Scottish Court Service. Officers arrested a total of 342 people wanted on warrant for outstanding crimes, failure to appear at court, failure to comply with court orders and non-payment of fines.
A total of 301 Apprehension Warrants were executed while 387 Warrants related to failure to pay fines. Throughout the Operation, Officers targeted individuals wanted in connection with crimes of violence, drugs offences and those responsible for Antisocial Behaviour.
A number of people were arrested in relation to acquisitive crime.
The Operation saw a total of 9 individuals arrested on Extract Conviction Warrants which saw them going directly to prison to serve an alternative sentence.
Assistant Chief Constable Campbell Thomson, , responsible for policing in the North of Scotland, “During the initiative we have been targeting wanted suspects and working with partners and other agencies to arrest and bring before the court, those responsible for committing crime or those who have not paid fines imposed.
“The operation builds on our promises to target those responsible for committing crime within our communities.
“Operation DEKA involves a number of different partners, increases our visibility and demonstrates to members of the public that the police and partners are working hard to bring offenders to justice.”
Andrew Laing from COPFS (North) said, “COPFS was pleased to be able to assist in this operation which has resulted in a significant number of persons being arrested and brought to justice.
“Those who fail to attend court without reasonable excuse and seek to evade justice can expect to feel the full force of the law.
“We will continue to work with the Police Service and Scottish Court Service to bring cases to a successful conclusion.”
In Tayside Division, a total of 212 warrants were executed, 163 offenders were arrested and fine defaulters with an accumulated debt of £7011.25 were dealt with.
Inspector Carol Brown of Tayside Divisional Co-ordination Unit said,
“Operation Deka was a highly successful Operation which focused on targeting those individuals within our communities who had been involved primarily in crimes of violence and who had attempted to evade legal process by failing to appear in court or to pay fines issued.
“It is clear from the excellent results achieved, that the partnership working approach undertaken by officers of Police Scotland, our partner agencies and members of the communities whom we serve, has contributed greatly to the success of the Operation.
“Although this phase of the Operation is completed, this is by no means the end of the process. Police Scotland will continue to pro-actively pursue those individuals within our communities who are wanted on outstanding warrants and we will take robust action to ensure that they are brought to justice before the courts.
“Police in Tayside Division are committed to reducing crime and targeting prolific offenders in our communities to keep people safe and we will leave no stone unturned to achieve this goal.”
