The Norwich Evening News has launched a campaign to overturn a decision by police to withold the names and identities of 12 men accused of category A offences who are on the run after skipping bail.

When police revealed that a dozen people were at large, a Freedom of Information request was submitted to Norfolk police to find out their details and get their pictures so the public could help track them down.

But the force would only provide details of the crimes - which range through sex offences, drugs and burglaries - the ages of the wanted men and the year they skipped bail, claiming that to name them would breach their human rights and the Data Protection Act.

Since the Evening News first ran a front page on the story, the police have stood by their decision, despite a raft of opposition from MPs, legal experts, pressure groups and victims of crime.

Meanwhile, the Government's own Department for Consitutional Affairs told the paper that nothing in the Human Rights Act prevents the publication of the photographs or the release of the criminals' names.

But Norfolk Police is sticking to its guns, saying the public can't have the information because it doesn't think the criminals are in Norfolk.

However, experts say that by failing to appear to face justice in court - a crime in itself - the dozen have lost their right to be protected and the pictures should be published because it could lead to their arrest.

David Powles, the Evening News reporter who broke the story, said: "It seems ridiculous the police are more concerned with protecting the rights of these people than with trying to catch them.

"Since we first ran the first story we have uncovered numerous examples up and down the country in which police appear more concerned with the possibility of breaching the human rights of criminals than ensuring people like this are caught."

An online poll found people in Norwich overwhelmingly back the campaign, with 80 per cent of respondents saying the details should be released.

The Evening News has now submitted an appeal against the force's decision, but has vowed to continue to apply pressure to get the ban overturned.

---

E-mail this story to a friend:
Your name................
Your friend's e-mail..

---

Back to the campaigns index

---

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or e-mail patrick.astill@and.co.uk