On the run: Families dob in relatives

Family members have dobbed their relatives into police after reading in The Daily Post they were wanted.

The Daily Post this month reported that more than 1300 Rotorua and Bay of Plenty criminals were on the run from police.

The data is based on the number of outstanding arrest warrants from the beginning of 2004 to the end of June this year.

It shows a total of 1341 people were wanted on active warrants in the Bay of Plenty region as of June 30, 88 of whom had committed violent acts.

Ten others were wanted on active warrants for crimes relating to sexual assaults.

A warrant is issued by a judge when someone accused of a crime fails to appear in court or breaches their bail conditions.

It may also be issued for someone who is suspected of a crime but still at large in the community.

A list of 10 Rotorua residents with outstanding arrest warrants was also featured in the paper. After reading the article three were arrested as a result of a family member contacting police.

Another man was arrested and one woman's warrant to arrest was cleared by the court.

Five of the 10 people featured still have outstanding arrest warrants.

Rotorua Police area commander Inspector Bruce Horne said in our earlier story the city had a team of four staff dedicated to targeting wanted people.

"We also have a process in place where we prioritise the people wanted on warrants and ensure that our most dangerous offenders are located with urgency to ensure they are brought back before the courts as soon as possible."

Mr Horne said anyone who had an active warrant was a concern and no one was more committed than the police in "bringing these people to justice".

"A surprisingly high number of people voluntarily surrender to the police when their name and photograph is publicised in the local media," Mr Horne said.

WANTED

• 
  Douglas Heke
• 
  Samuel Edward Steve Hitaua
• 
  Montana Stehlin
• 
  Karl Heta
• 
  Mark Tamai

- Those with outstanding arrest warrants