A crackdown has started in Bradford against hundreds of people who have failed to appear in court after being charged with criminal offences.

Officers working on Operation Glendale have drawn up a hit-list of 230 offenders who will be targeted during the week-long exercise.

The warrants cover offences such as robbery, burglary, street and vehicle crime. Some outstanding warrants are up to 15-years-old, although most are under a year.

The fast-track operation has been streamlined so that after being arrested and questioned, offenders are then immediately taken before magistrates.

So far 15 people have been arrested and taken to court. One person has received a jail sentence. The operation is based in the Bradford South division, which includes the city centre. But officers are closely liaising with police in Bradford North and Keighley as well as other West Yorkshire police divisions and other forces.

Operation Glendale's co-ordinator Inspector Scott Bisset is urging anyone who has failed to appear at court to give himself up.

"The message to people is 'Come down at your convenience or we'll bring you in at our convenience'," said Insp Bisset.

The arrests are being carried out by Bradford's specialist Taskit arrest squad, which has achieved considerable success in tracking down those trying to evade justice.

The clamp down is part of the national Offenders Brought to Justice Campaign.

"In the last year we've had a real focus on targeting people who don't appear in court by the setting up of a dedicated team," said Insp Bisset. "We've arrested more than 1,500 people."

The 15-strong Taskit team has tracked those on its wanted list as far as London, Scotland and even Spain.

"We find people nationally and internationally," added Insp Bisset. "We won't forget about it. So we speak to people's families and friends and we visit their workplaces. We work closely with other partner agencies such as the DSS and housing associations to identify new addresses for people. We'll take positive and rigorous action to get them in."

Although the operation is only running to this weekend, police are adamant that the round-up of people on outstanding warrants is open-ended and on-going.

Police have set up a special hotline on (01274) 373028 to assist those with outstanding warrants.