A ‘most wanted’ list of 17 foreign nationals believed to be hiding in London was released by Met Police today – with three violent criminals thought to be in south west London.
Officers from Operation Sunfire are appealing for the public’s help to trace the foreign criminals who are wanted by police across Europe.
The violent crimes of the wanted men include rape, murder, assault and one involved in the sexual exploitation of children.
Detective Sergeant Peter Rance, of the Met’s Extradition Unit, leading Operation Sunfire 4, said: “We believe that these people are dangerous, so taking them out of our communities and putting them before the courts is of paramount importance.
“I urge the public to look closely at these pictures. Do you recognise these men? It may be that they live next door to you, or you see them regularly elsewhere in your community.”
Two Polish men wanted for violent crimes are believed to be in Croydon or Lambeth.
Polish national Krzysztof Malkowski, 39, is wanted in his home country for grievous bodily harm and is due to serve a 19-month jail sentence for a violent attack in 2012.
VIOLENT: Krzysztof Malkowski
He and an accomplish brutally attacked another man, breaking his ribs, nose and eye socket and damaging his internal organs, after luring him into a flat in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Michal Ochecki, who also goes by the name Tomasz Baniak, is due to serve more than two years for a string of assaults and robbery.
The now 29-year-old and another suspect robbed and punched a man in Sieradz in 2004, before going on to assault another victim four days later in order to steal a mobile phone.
WANTED: Michal Ochecki
In 2007 Ochecki carried out a violent, unprovoked attack on a man, punching and kicking the victim in the face and smashing his front teeth and breaking his nose.
Another Polish man who was convicted of seven offences including assaulting a police officer is believed to be in west London.
Tomasz Pieta is due to serve almost 4 years for his string of assaults between 2001 – 2006, punching three men and stealing their belongings.
His unlawful activity extends to burglary and criminal damage of a summer house, he thought to be in west London although also has links to Wembley.
ON THE RUN: Tomasz Pieta
Founder and Chairman of Crimestoppers, Lord Ashcroft KCMG, PC, urged anyone with information to call Crimestoppers and said: “Many of these individuals are known to be highly dangerous, making their arrest an urgent priority.”
DS Rance said that although the Met conduct extensive daily enquiries, experience tells them that co-ordinated operations that encourage the public to share information often leads to arrests.
He said: “The Met is committed to arresting dangerous criminals – whether they are British or foreign nationals.”
Operation Sunfire has proved successful at its previous three appeals, where almost half of the dangerous criminals were arrested.
Police warned the public not to approach any of the men, if you see them call 999 so they can be arrested.
Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you have any information about their whereabouts, a ‘language line’ is available where interpreters are on hand for non-English speakers.
