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Catching criminals on the Costa Catching criminals on the Costa
(about 7 hours later)
By Ben Ando Crime correspondent, BBC NewsBy Ben Ando Crime correspondent, BBC News
Andrew Alderman (left) and Andrew Snelgrove are included on the listAndrew Alderman (left) and Andrew Snelgrove are included on the list
British police have launched an operation to track down criminals on the run on the Costa Blanca. How does it work and what is the reaction of law-abiding UK expats in Spain?British police have launched an operation to track down criminals on the run on the Costa Blanca. How does it work and what is the reaction of law-abiding UK expats in Spain?
November in El Campello on Spain's Costa Blanca is hardly high season.November in El Campello on Spain's Costa Blanca is hardly high season.
The beaches are quiet - the only vessels at sea are fishing boats and, on the horizon, ferries serving the neighbouring port at Alicante.The beaches are quiet - the only vessels at sea are fishing boats and, on the horizon, ferries serving the neighbouring port at Alicante.
But CJ's bar on the sea front has a busy lunchtime crowd, a loyal clientele of expats who come here to meet and chat with other Britons and to enjoy the sausage and mash or egg and chips they miss.But CJ's bar on the sea front has a busy lunchtime crowd, a loyal clientele of expats who come here to meet and chat with other Britons and to enjoy the sausage and mash or egg and chips they miss.
It is just the place for Crimestoppers to launch Operation Captura, putting up posters and handing out beer mats to publicise a new drive to track down unwanted criminals thought to be hiding in Spain.It is just the place for Crimestoppers to launch Operation Captura, putting up posters and handing out beer mats to publicise a new drive to track down unwanted criminals thought to be hiding in Spain.
"We were blown away by the response last time," explains Crimestoppers' Hannah Daws."We were blown away by the response last time," explains Crimestoppers' Hannah Daws.
"The expats here really don't want to have these people living among them and the beauty with Crimestoppers is that it's totally anonymous so no one will ever know the tip-off came from them.""The expats here really don't want to have these people living among them and the beauty with Crimestoppers is that it's totally anonymous so no one will ever know the tip-off came from them."
Wanted listWanted list
Of the 30 criminals featured in the first Operation Captura two years ago, 14 are now back in custody. Of the 30 criminals featured in the first Operation Captura two years ago, 13 are now back in custody.
Among them are convicted killer James Hurley, who had been on the run for over a decade, and escaped robber Clifford Hobbs.Among them are convicted killer James Hurley, who had been on the run for over a decade, and escaped robber Clifford Hobbs.
CAPTURA WANTED LIST Andrew Arthur Alderman, 49Thomas Cochran, 50Alan McDonald Gordon, 46Adam Hart, 29Dennis Hunter, 57Anthony Kearney, 43Donna McCafferty, 41Dean Lawrence Rice, 47Shashir Dhar Sahnan, 51Andrew Robert Snelgrove, 45 Full details on Crimestoppers website CAPTURA WANTED LIST Andrew Arthur Alderman, 49Thomas Cochran, 50Alan McDonald Gordon, 46Adam Hart, 29Dennis Hunter, 57Anthony Kearney, 43Donna McCafferty, 41Dean Lawrence Rice, 47Shashi Dhar Sahnan, 51Andrew Mark Snelgrove, 45 Full details on Crimestoppers website
Among the 10 faces on the new list are convicted paedophile Andrew Alderman, 49; drug dealer suspect Adam Hart, 29, who went on the run after escaping from police; Dean Rice, 47, wanted for kidnap and false imprisonment, and Anthony Kearney, 43, who is accused of extortion, perverting the course of justice and fraud. He is known to use as many as nine aliases.Among the 10 faces on the new list are convicted paedophile Andrew Alderman, 49; drug dealer suspect Adam Hart, 29, who went on the run after escaping from police; Dean Rice, 47, wanted for kidnap and false imprisonment, and Anthony Kearney, 43, who is accused of extortion, perverting the course of justice and fraud. He is known to use as many as nine aliases.
Andrew Snelgrove, 45, is accused of attempted murder, wounding with intent and possession of a firearm in 1999.Andrew Snelgrove, 45, is accused of attempted murder, wounding with intent and possession of a firearm in 1999.
The full list can be found on the Crimestoppers website, with photographs of each of the wanted criminals and freephone numbers that can be called from both the UK and Spain.The full list can be found on the Crimestoppers website, with photographs of each of the wanted criminals and freephone numbers that can be called from both the UK and Spain.
The list is prepared by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and those on it are subject to European Arrest Warrants.The list is prepared by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) and those on it are subject to European Arrest Warrants.
Introduced in 2004, these drastically reduce paperwork and make extradition a matter of weeks, not years.Introduced in 2004, these drastically reduce paperwork and make extradition a matter of weeks, not years.
Bill Hughes, director of Soca says he has a strong message for those on the run abroad.Bill Hughes, director of Soca says he has a strong message for those on the run abroad.
"These criminals seem to gravitate to warmer climes and think they can sit back and relax and enjoy their money," he said."These criminals seem to gravitate to warmer climes and think they can sit back and relax and enjoy their money," he said.
"That's not the case. We are determined to seize their assets and bring them back to face trial, or be returned to prison, in the proper way."That's not the case. We are determined to seize their assets and bring them back to face trial, or be returned to prison, in the proper way.
"The majority of people, honest, trustworthy people, don't want to see these individuals profit from their criminality when they should actually be facing up to justice.""The majority of people, honest, trustworthy people, don't want to see these individuals profit from their criminality when they should actually be facing up to justice."
Sunshine sanctuarySunshine sanctuary
A Costa Blanca resort also popular with Britons is Torrevieja.A Costa Blanca resort also popular with Britons is Torrevieja.
At a hypermarket on the edge of town, some of the photographs are shown to British shoppers. There was little sympathy for those on the run.At a hypermarket on the edge of town, some of the photographs are shown to British shoppers. There was little sympathy for those on the run.
"Why should they get away with things?" asked one woman."Why should they get away with things?" asked one woman.
"We try to live a good life and why shouldn't everyone else?""We try to live a good life and why shouldn't everyone else?"
Escaped robber Clifford Hobbs was caught in the first Operation CapturaEscaped robber Clifford Hobbs was caught in the first Operation Captura
Another believes criminals on the Costa probably think they can go unrecognised, and believes putting the pictures online, or on beer mats, is a good way to generate calls.Another believes criminals on the Costa probably think they can go unrecognised, and believes putting the pictures online, or on beer mats, is a good way to generate calls.
One woman did say that she would not turn someone in if she thought "they'd stolen something from a British bank" but did admit that she would ring in with information about drug dealers and paedophiles on the list.One woman did say that she would not turn someone in if she thought "they'd stolen something from a British bank" but did admit that she would ring in with information about drug dealers and paedophiles on the list.
Any information that is received will be forwarded to Spanish police, who will make the actual arrests with Soca officers present in an advisory role only, or to act as translators.Any information that is received will be forwarded to Spanish police, who will make the actual arrests with Soca officers present in an advisory role only, or to act as translators.
Anyone taken into custody would be transported to Madrid for a short court hearing before being formally handed over to the British authorities.Anyone taken into custody would be transported to Madrid for a short court hearing before being formally handed over to the British authorities.
But Soca admits that criminals are already getting the message that Spain is no longer the sunshine sanctuary it once was.But Soca admits that criminals are already getting the message that Spain is no longer the sunshine sanctuary it once was.
They are now turning their attention to other destinations, such as Dubai, to try to evade the ever-lengthening long arm of the law.They are now turning their attention to other destinations, such as Dubai, to try to evade the ever-lengthening long arm of the law.