POLICE today published photos of seven fugitives in Kirklees as part of a new national crime crackdown.

All seven failed to appear in court.

The Government-led campaign is determined to make sure they do not get away with dodging the court system.

Nationally, one in eight defendants fails to show up at court. An estimated 60,000 warrants are outstanding for bail bandits.

The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, is in West Yorkshire today to launch the countrywide campaign, Operation Turn-up.

He said: "Police could turn up at their home while they are having breakfast, while they are out and about or at their place of work.

"They will see that they can't thumb their nose at the criminal justice system."

Police in West Yorkshire are looking at tracing more than 800 people who have failed to appear in court. Several have already been arrested.

Photos of more fugitives are likely to appear in the Examiner soon.

West Yorkshire Chief Constable Colin Cramphorn said: "Our message to those who fail to turn up for court is that they will not get away with it."

"Outstanding warrants will be acted on and we would ask defendants to come to us before we come to them."

Neil Franklin, Chief Crown Prosecutor in West Yorkshire, said: "A substantial amount of time, effort and expense is wasted on cases for which defendants fail to appear.

"This cannot be allowed to continue."

"Failure to attend court will result in arrest and severe punishment.

"Failure to surrender to bail is a serious criminal offence which the courts deal with robustly."

The seven people wanted have been accused of offences ranging from driving while banned to robberies and serious assaults.

They are:

* Martin Glyn Evans, 32, of Marsh, who is wanted after failing to appear at Bradford Crown Court for an allegation of assault in 2003.

* Antony Lund, 27, from Lowerhouses, failed to appear before Bradford Crown Court, accused of wounding, in 2003.

* Nanoushka Harrison, 24, of Huddersfield, is wanted for failing to attend Bradford Crown Court to answer an allegation of robbery in 2002 and for breaching an order imposed by Huddersfield magistrates in 2003.

* Jangeer Hussain, 26, of Cleckheaton, is wanted on a warrant issued by Bradford magistrates for an allegation of causing unnecessary suffering in 2003.

* Maboob Bostan, 34, is from the Mount Pleasant area of Batley. He is still wanted on a warrant issued by Batley and Dewsbury magistrates in 1999 to answer an allegation of a serious assault in 1997.

* Richard Michael Barrett, 25, of Ripponden, is wanted on warrants for violent disorder in 2003 and failing to answer an allegation of driving while disqualified in 2004. Both were issued by Calderdale magistrates.

Anyone who recognises any of the seven are urged to contact Crimestoppers on:

0800 555 111