VALENTINE cards and letters to bail dodgers proved a success during Operation Turn Up 2008, leading to 66 people being put back before the courts to face justice.

West Mercia Constabulary has hailed this year's initiative to trace bail dodgers a success after a total of 193 people wanted on warrant were traced.

Operation Turn Up 2008 started on January 28 and ran for three weeks. Police were trying to target offenders who had failed to pay fines or turn up at court for their cases.

Part of the campaign involved sending reminder letters and Valentine cards to people asking them to surrender. Thirty-four per cent of those who handed themselves in did so as a result of receiving a card or letter.

Chief Insp Garry Higgins, of the West Mercia Local Criminal Justice Board, said: "We traced a total of 193 people, as a result of people handing themselves in or visits by officers who found individuals.

"The force always has a number of people wanted on warrant who have skipped bail and our warrant managers across West Mercia are working throughout the year to trace them.

"During Operation Turn Up 2008, we worked with officers from Central Motorway Police Group - CMPG - and Her Majesty's Court Service - HMCS - to identify, locate, arrest and bring offenders back to court.

"Around a third of outstanding warrants at any time are for people living outside West Mercia. Those who fail to turn up at court can cause extra worry to victims and witnesses, as well as disrupting the course of justice and causing inconvenience."

The force had about 440 outstanding fail to attend court warrants at the end of January but the number varies daily. More than 160 Valentine cards were posted to wanted people by police and the courts service sent out a further 130.

Chief Insp Higgins added: "This is not the first time West Mercia Constabulary has run Operation Turn Up and I hope it will not be the last. We believe the campaign has raised awareness of the problem and encouraged wanted people to come forward.

"Offenders should realise they cannot evade justice for ever and even though this year's Turn Up initiative is over we will continue to search for wanted people.

"Our message to anyone who is dodging bail or failing to pay a fine is do the right thing and surrender to police or the courts as soon as possible."

People who fail to turn up at court will become subject of a court warrant, meaning when they are traced they will face an extra criminal charge. That could, ultimately, lead to extra punishment from the courts.

Anyone who has information about someone the police are trying to trace can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.