'Name and shame' poster ban challenge

The convicted criminal objected to the police campaign

Police are to contest a High Court injunction banning them from featuring a convicted burglar in a poster campaign.

Essex Police planned to put up 40 posters in Brentwood on Monday showing Gary Ellis, 27, who is serving a three-and-a-half year sentence for theft offences.

But his lawyers won a temporary injunction against the posters, arguing they infringed Ellis' human rights.

A spokesman for Essex Police said a full hearing is expected into the issue in the "near future".

Public reassured

He added that the force expects the matter to be concluded by the end of April.

The posters were to have been the first in a series designed to make youngsters think twice before committing crimes.

They were also aimed at reassuring the public that action was being taken against criminals.

About eight other forces were interested in using similar posters if the scheme proved a success.