UK police link up with Netherlands in hunt for fugitives

Police believe Rezgar Zengana is on the run in the Netherlands. The Iraqi national is on a list of six fugitives wanted for serious crimes, the charity Crimestoppers revealed yesterday.

Following the success of a Spanish campaign, Operation Captura, Crimestoppers is appealing to the public to help identify people wanted for serious crimes in the UK, but now known to be in the Netherlands.

Operation Return is a multi-agency campaign involving the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Crimestoppers UK, Meld Misdaad Anoniem (Dutch Crimestoppers) and Netherlands law enforcement officers.

The list includes Zengana, who was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow on 6 June, 2008 of raping a 25-year-old woman.

He posed as a private hire taxi driver and drove his victim to an unknown private residence, where he committed the rape. Zengana failed to appear for sentencing on the following month, and remains at large.

The rape was committed in Glasgow in December 2006. The victim was picked up from a Christmas function at a city centre hotel.

Kate Johnston, Scotland Crimestoppers' national manager, said: "These criminals think they're safe hiding in the Netherlands, but it takes only one call to Crimestoppers to bring them back to the UK to face justice.

Crimestoppers chairman Lord Ashcroft added: "We are hoping that the public respond as well to this appeal as they have done for our campaign in Spain, which has resulted in a large number of arrests. "

Members of the public are encouraged to visit the Crimestoppers website – www.crimestoppers-uk.org/wanted – to view the six appeals.