POLICE in Avon and Somerset are thanking those who assist in their appeals on social media as they pass the 100,000 Twitter followers mark.

The force uses Facebook as well as Twitter to share appeals each day.

To celebrate the milestone, officers are thanking their online audience for helping to reunite loved ones, trace dangerous criminals, spread awareness of important causes, and even raise a smile.

Among the success stories from the social media campaigns, one of Avon and Somerset’s most wanted handed himself in, after likes and shares of information made it impossible for him to go anywhere without being recognised. This resulted in a jail sentence.

DCI Simon Crisp, said: “Social media is a powerful tool for our force. We use it to share crime prevention advice as well as to share our appeals.

"Yes, all the usual techniques like finger printing and analysing CCTV footage are vital. But our Twitter followers are essentially like 100,000 extra deputies acting on our behalf.

“In the majority of crimes, we need input from witnesses, and the most effective way of finding them is via social media.

“We work on the assumption that someone, somewhere will nearly always have some information which can help or even solve an investigation for us.

“Therefore, by sharing our appeals on your social media accounts, you are closing this net and helping us progress serious criminal cases.

"So we would like to take this opportunity to give a massive thumbs-up to everyone who follows us on social media. We couldn’t do our jobs without people like you.”

As well as the force’s main account @ASPolice, which went live in March 2009, there are around 50 other accounts including specialist accounts including @ASPoliceHorses, @ASPoliceDogs, @ASPCallCentre and @ASPOps_Training, as well as more localised accounts covering each neighbourhood policing area.