THESE are the individuals most wanted by the Metropolitan Police in the borough of Hounslow.

The 12 are being sought in connection with a range of offences, ranging from assault to shoplifting.

Inspector Rob Wilson said: "We would like the public's help in tracing them. They are wanted for a variety of offences committed in and around Hounslow. Any information passed will be treated in confidence and will be acted on to arrest the individuals as soon as possible."

The youngest person on the list is 18-year-old Craciun Sinica, wanted for bail act offences, the last of which was committed in Brentford in February this year. The oldest is 50-year-old Nicholas Thorpe, wanted for theft and shoplifting and thought to be connected with a theft from the Chiswick branch of Sainsbury's in March this year.

A police spokesman said: "These are criminals that we have been trying to trace for some time but have been unsuccessful.

"They are all shown as being wanted on our systems and although they are not 'high profile', all have a huge impact on our community safety and crime reduction and some of which are wanted for the same crime several times over."

* Anyone with information about where these individuals are living or working should call the Hounslow wanted offender unit on 020 8247 6250 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.