Caught on Camera, a regular feature in the Hull Daily Mail, is proving to be a massive success in the fight against crime, boasting a 75 per cent success rate.

Despite good footage from closed-circuit television systems clearly identifying suspected offenders, Humberside Police were frustrated by lack of progress in their investigations, until PC Mick Heseltine had a spark of inspiration.

He contacted the Mail to ask if it could run a regular feature showing some of the alleged criminals.

Since its launch last September it has been hugely successful, with readers acting as extra eyes and ears for the police.

By the time the 50th person was featured in Caught on Camera, police had made significant inroads into 38 unsolved crimes, and the feature now boasts a 75 per cent success rate.

PC Heseltine said: "Investigation into offences is often held up by lack of identification of suspects.

"The still photographs that have appeared in the Mail were, in effect, undetected crimes and would have been left filed a such.

"But because of the involvement of Mail readers, who have taken the time and effort in reading the articles and contacting police or Crimestoppers, the majority of these offences have been detected.

"The people featured in Caught on Camera have included people who have never been in trouble with the police before and would never have been identified if it wasn't for Mail readers."

As well as helping to identify suspects, Caught on Camera has also proved to be a deterrent.

PC Heseltine said: "We have been told that there has been a drop in shop thefts because offenders fear they are going to be featured in Caught on Camera.

"That is what we want. We want people to think twice before they commit crime and it is another reason why Caught on Camera has been such a success.

"I would like to thank the Mail for the spirit of its co-operation."

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