Police choose offender for poster campaign

Police believe "naming and shaming" will cut crime

A convicted burglar and car thief is to feature in a police poster campaign.

Pictures of Gary Ellis, 27, of Brentwood, Essex, will appear in railway stations and restaurants in the area from 3 February.

Police hope the posters will reassure victims that justice is being done and help stop other crimes.

Police sergeant Piers Quinnell said: "The hope is that those individuals considering a criminal future, particularly youngsters, will see the posters and think twice."

Repeat offenders

Only repeat and serious criminal offenders will appear on the posters, police said.

Ellis reappeared in court on 9 December on further charges and had six months added to his prior sentence.

Mr Quinnell said: "His defence solicitors indicated that they would make a legal challenge preventing Ellis being displayed on a poster - however, no action was brought."

Police said each case will be assessed before subjects are selected for the posters.

Assessment process

A police spokesman said: "This process ensures, for instance, that any mental health issues are identified and any vulnerable relatives of the offender don't become targets."

Critics have said the scheme will stigmatise offenders after they finish their time in jail.

When the scheme was announced, Adrian Thomas of the crime reduction charity Nacro told BBC Online the posters would make reoffending more likely.

Mr Quinnell said that nine other police forces including Greater Manchester, the Metropolitan Police, and Sussex had expressed an interest in the campaign.