AN OPERATION aimed at putting pressure on Merseyside's most wanted offenders has been launched.

Operation Hunted - which will take place during three weeks of action - is aimed at reducing the number of outstanding named offenders in Merseyside wanted for offences, ranging from serious crimes and breaching the terms of their release from prison.

This will involve local police officers, PCSOs, detectives, Roads Policing units, specialist search teams, the Cannabis Dismantling Team and Matrix officers.

Chief Superintendent Rob Carden, who is coordinating the force-wide operation, said people wanted in connection with ongoing cases should expect a knock at the door.

"The force has already seen great results in previous weeks of action, however this is set to be a much more resource-intensive operation that will run over a longer period," he said.

"We are taking a co-ordinated force-wide approach, involving officers at all levels, to seek out those who are wanted by police. Local policing teams are working closely with detectives to identify and locate people connected to crimes.

"During one of the previous week long operations, a concerted efforts by teams from across the force led to 104 people being caught and, as word spread, a further 91 handing themselves in."

He added: "We never stop looking for people wanted for criminal offences and are maintaining the pressure on people who know they are wanted, but have yet to do the right thing and come forward. The next three weeks will see a huge push in locating these wanted individuals, and with the help of the public will ultimately make our communities safer.

"In the upcoming weeks, our most wanted individuals will be on our website and social media under the hashtag #OpHunted and I would encourage people to take a look and share information with us so that we can put as many people as possible behind bars."