Suspects who have skipped court hearings face being rounded up by a police operation.
Essex police are taking part in the national effort, called Operation Turn-Up, which is likely to see officers raiding homes from Monday.
They have already written to everyone covered by a fail to appear warrant warning them they should contact police as soon as possible.
Det Insp Steve Johnson, of Colchester CID, said: "The initiative is to reduce the number of fail to appear warrants."
He said the police and other parts of the criminal system would increase staff to deal with people arrested and sent to court during Operation Turn-Up.
Published Friday, February 4, 2005
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