A MAJOR crackdown on offenders on the run in Lancashire was launched by police today.

Operation Clean Slate is the first initiative of the new Lancashire Criminal Justice Board, which was set up last month to bring more criminals to justice.

It is made up of senior officials from the police, probation service, courts, Crown Prosecution Service, youth offending teams, prisons and Victim Support.

Throughout June, police officers will be targeting individuals with outstanding warrants for their arrest in a bid to bring them before the courts.

Dozens of people are wanted on warrant in East Lancashire for a variety of offences, ranging from burglary and theft to more serious matters.

Police were unable to say how many warrants will be executed, but claimed the move would be a major campaign aimed at reducing a backlog and showing people they cannot defeat justice by absconding.

Chief Constable Paul Stephenson, who is chairman of the board, said: "The constabulary, and all its partners in the criminal justice system, is committed to bringing offenders to justice.

"An integral part of this will be the reduction in the number of offenders wanted on warrant in the county."

Judge Peter Openshaw, Recorder of Preston who sits at the city's crown court, said: "Offenders who fail to attend court inconvenience victims and witnesses and waste large sums of public money.

"The public, rightly, expects that warrants will be issued against such people, that the warrants will be promptly executed, and that the offenders who fail to attend without a reasonable excuse will be proceeded against and punished."

Any move to reduce the backlog of unexecuted warrants is to be welcomed since it will enable the police to target those who are attempting to evade current proceedings more effectively .

"Offenders will learn that they cannot defeat the ends of justice by absconding."