A newspaper’s campaign to catch criminals has been hailed a success by police after readers identified more than half of the suspects.

Weekly title the Surrey Comet issued a plea to the public through a series of ‘Most Wanted’ features in the paper which began in October and saw them liaise with Kingston Police.

As a result of information supplied by readers officers were able to make arrests, with some people handing themselves in.

Two people came forward following the first edition of Most Wanted, and three came forward after the second round of appeals.

News editor Julia Kennard said since last month’s appeal a further three people had come forward, including someone who was wanted on suspicion of allegedly defrauding a pensioner for roofing works.

The Surrey Comet's Most Wanted campaign

Said Julia: “The success of the Surrey Comet’s Most Wanted is down to valuable partnership working with the police, but crucially depends on our readers to get results.

“The response we have had shows how worthwhile and important these campaigns are, not just in building healthy relationships with the police and catching suspected criminals, but in engaging our readers too.”

A Kingston Police spokesman said: “Most Wanted has proved enormously successful with eight of the 15 people featured either handing themselves in or being arrested thanks to information provided by readers of the Surrey Comet.

“Kingston police will continue to work in partnership with the Surrey Comet to bring those accused to justice.”