POLICE are urging wanted criminals in the district to hand themselves in – or expect a knock at the door this festive season.

The West Yorkshire force has launched an operation targeting offenders being sought in relation to a range of crimes.

Enforcement activity will see additional resources deployed in all five districts across the force area.

Amongst those involved are neighbourhood policing teams and officers from Operation Jemlock, which was set up four years ago to tackle serious violent crime in West Yorkshire.

The latest initiative is being funded with money seized from criminals through the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Assistant Chief Constable Pat Twiggs says: "The aim of these intensive weeks of action is to detain – and secure convictions for – as many wanted individuals as possible and provide reassurance, not only to victims of crime but also to the wider communities of West Yorkshire, that the force is being proactive in ensuring their safety.

"With the additional resources assigned to this latest operation coming from money seized from criminals through the Proceeds of Crime Act, it is great to see these funds being put to good use to not only help victims of crime, but also target those who are involved in criminal activity.

"I want to reassure the communities of this region which have been affected by criminality that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe and clamping down on those individuals who are evading justice."

The operation is being led by Temporary Superintendent Andy Cass.

He says: "This is a new initiative focusing on assertive and proactive policing to apprehend those who are wanted and avoiding justice.

"I would urge those are attempting to evade us to hand themselves in – if not, the festive season in your households will be disrupted by a knock at the door by police.

"These individuals, some of whom are wanted for serious offences, are going to be targeted in the coming weeks as we are putting extra resources in place to get on the front foot and quickly arrest outstanding suspects and bring them into custody."

Earlier this year, Operation Jemlock reached a milestone when the number of arrests made since its launch broke through the 9,000 mark.

Data also revealed that over 1,700 weapons – including machetes, knives and firearms – had been recovered.

The initiative sees officers patrol priority areas.