More than 250 suspected criminals on the run in Wolverhampton but police REFUSE to reveal who they are

Officers are currently hunting for more than 200 suspects believed to have broken the law in Wolverhampton.

Suspects who have managed to evade justice for the longest time are wanted for kidnapping, prostitution, sex offences, theft and traffic offences.

But the Express & Star is unable to name the alleged criminals are as police believe it would breach the suspects privacy.

West Midlands Police has a total of 258 arrest warrants still outstanding for suspects who are allegedly connected to crimes carried out in the city, a Freedom of Information request revealed.

The force confirmed the oldest arrest warrants date back to 2011 after it received a freedom of information request from the Express & Star asking about the 20 who had been on the run the longest.

A total of six suspects are still being sought by police for prostitution offences, indecent assault, minor road traffic offences and theft dating back to 2011. Officers are also still looking for five suspects wanted for rape, bail offences, common assault, breaching a court order and theft from 2013.

Police issued nine arrest warrants in 2014 for theft, common assault and minor road traffic offences, which also included suspects wanted in connection with kidnapping in 2006 and bail offences in 2010.

But the force refused to reveal the identity of any of the suspects or disclose where in the city the alleged offences had taken place, claiming it would breach data protection laws.

Susan Brown, of the force’s freedom of information unit, said it would be ‘unfair’ to release the information if it did not lead to the suspect’s arrest. In her response to the request, she went on to claim it was also not in the public interest to release all the information. She said the force actively publishes information online relating to its campaigns, adding: “This provides the public with direct access to current up-to-date information which will help to locate those offenders who are wanted or missing.

“The decision to place this material into the public domain is made by the officer in charge of the case where they believe that it will help bring that alleged offender to justice.

“Where publication of this material would not help to bring that offender to justice it is not published.”

Wolverhampton Police Chief Superintendent Jayne Meir, said: “Arrest warrants are issued by the courts after suspects have failed to attend court or skipped court bail having been arrested and charged by the police.

"The vast majority of the matters these 258 people are wanted in connection with are for bail offences and lower level crimes like minor road traffic offences and shoplifting.

“Repeated arrest attempts have been made by our officers in a bid to locate these suspects. However, a significant percentage of the people outstanding are foreign nationals and the suspicion is that many have now left the UK.”