POLICE last night released details of three criminals on the run in Norfolk after an outcry over the number of offenders wanted nationwide.The Ministry of Justice yesterday confirmed a total of almost 1,000 criminals were wanted on recall to prison following a nationwide audit.

POLICE last night released details of three criminals on the run in Norfolk after an outcry over the number of offenders wanted nationwide.

The Ministry of Justice yesterday confirmed a total of almost 1,000 criminals were wanted on recall to prison following a nationwide audit. But it did not provide the identities of the offenders.

These figures included five prisoners at large in Norfolk - one of the lowest figures in the country. However, these figures are out-of-date and there are now three criminals currently on the wanted list.

Many forces have refused to release details of the wanted men's identities or offences, saying it could be considered a breach of privacy.

But a Norfolk police spokesman confirmed the force was searching for:

Jay Jenkins, 35, from Great Yarmouth has been wanted since July 3 on recall to prison having breached the terms of his licence. He was convicted for theft in April 2008. Police recommend he is not approached and anyone with any information of his whereabouts should contact officers as soon as possible. Jenkins is described as 5ft 10in tall, medium build, with short brown hair, often cropped. He sometimes wears glasses and is usually clean shaven.

Keiron Evans, 42, from Norwich, who has been wanted since April 9 on recall to prison having breached the terms of his licence. He was convicted for arson with intent in Wales. He is believed to be in France.

He is described as white, 5ft 8in tall and of proportionate build. He has blue eyes, short brown hair and is normally clean shaven. He speaks with a Welsh accent and is known to have numerous tattoos on his arms.

Neil Smith, 31, from Norwich, has been wanted since June 16 on recall to prison having breached the terms of his licence. He was convicted for drug offences in January 2007.

He is described as 5ft 11in tall, with grey eyes and of average build.

In all cases police would recommend that the men are not approached and that members of the public with any information about their whereabouts contact officers as soon as possible.

According to the Ministry of Justice list there are currently six criminals at large in Suffolk and nine in Cambridgeshire.

The total nationally includes 72 robbers, 19 murderers and 12 rapists. There are still some offenders who were recalled to custody up to 25 years ago but are still on the run, the figures showed.

The figures, which cover offenders in England and Wales, also showed that nearly 150 were on the loose despite police being told to re-arrest them more than five years ago.

Offenders are recalled to prison if they breach the terms of their release - such as by committing further crimes, or not meeting their probation officer.

Most criminals who serve sentences of 12 months or more are automatically released at the half point of their sentence.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman defended the performance on recalls as “creditable” and said police had an “action plan” in place to deal with outstanding cases.

A spokesman said: “The largest majority of reasons for recall in this data are for being out of touch with their probation officer.

“If the recall is for a serious offender who poses a high risk, an emergency recall is issued and the police have a target of 74 hours to return the offender to custody.”