8:27am Thursday 9th July 2009
By Telegraph & Argus
There will doubtless be many readers who are quite bemused by the unwillingness of West Yorkshire Police to reveal details of the 13 convicted criminals on the run.
Surely there would be a greater chance of catching these fugitives from the judicial system if their identities were not kept secret.
If the names and photographs of the 13 were circulated and published, then it stands to reason that the police would, with the help of the public, greatly improve their chances of tracking them down.
West Yorkshire police argue that it is not appropriate to make this information public due to “policing reasons”.
It is not clear what these policing reasons are. If the police know the location of these individuals, then it does make sense to withhold information that might panic them and cause them to flee deeper underground.
But that begs the question: If the police know where they are, why haven’t they re-arrested them yet?
Amazingly, some police forces have used the excuse for not releasing information that it would be in breach of the criminals’ human rights.
Which, of course, prompts us to ask where does that place the human rights of the victims of whatever crimes these individuals have committed, and of the rights of the members of the public who might be in danger from their continued freedom?
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/trade_directory/