A BLITZ on people who skip court or try to dodge fines has led to hundreds of arrests.

Two operations have been running side-by-side in the county and the results of months of action have now been released.

In mid-2003 only about three-quarters of fines were being paid in West Yorkshire.

But following on from a get-tough campaign last year, that figure has now shot up to 91% with an extra £250,000 collected.

And a separate campaign targeting offenders who fail to show up in court, police have tracked down and arrested 444 people wanted on warrant for dodging their court date.

The campaign against unpaid fines came to Huddersfield last November when West Yorkshire Police's Target team joined forces with court enforcement officers to visit the homes of people wanted on warrant for unpaid fines.

More than 400 homes were visited, around 30 people were arrested and court officials collected £3,283 in unpaid fines on doorsteps across the town.

People who were out were left stern letters telling them to pay up or attend a special fines court at the town's magistrates' court.

Several people were also tracked down in Huddersfield who were wanted on warrant. Photographs of some appeared in the Examiner.

Chief Insp Tim Redhead, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "We believe that by getting more defendants to turn up at court, public confidence in the criminal justice system will increase and we are also building better relations with our criminal justice partners."

He said a new computer warrant system is now up and running which means police will find out more quickly if people fail to turn up in court so officers can be sent to get them.

Chief Insp Redhead added: "This means that warrants can be followed up more quickly which will lead to a reduction in the number we currently have outstanding.

"We will continue targeting those who fail to appear at court and would urge people to come forward and surrender themselves to their local police station or court where the warrant was issued, rather than wait for us to visit them."

The action was part of nationwide campaigns called Operation Payback and Operation Turn-up.

West Yorkshire Criminal Justice Board chairman Neil Franklin - who is the county's chief prosecutor - said: "Through Operation Turn-up we are bringing offenders to justice more swiftly and ensuring that they appear at court, which also means that victims and witnesses don't have a wasted trip.

"Defendants who fail to turn up to court are wasting a substantial amount of time, effort and expense and we will continue working with our partners to send out the message that this will not be tolerated.

"Criminal justice agencies in West Yorkshire are now working extremely well together to tackle the crime which most affects our communities.

"Improvements must continue and the Board is committed to making sure they do."

West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn added: "The Board has made tremendous progress over the past two years and we look forward to continuing that work with our partners.

"The multi-agency approach we have adopted is proving to be more effective in bringing criminals to justice and providing better support for victims and witnesses."

* People who are having trouble paying fines should contact the enforcement department on 0113 307 6600.