New push to catch Australia's most wanted

Australians have been urged to do their bit to catch the nation's most wanted fugitives, including a man who murdered his wife and three kids 24 years ago.

They're the worst of the worst, a ruthless band of murderers, sex offenders, drug runners and fraudsters - and they could be living next door to you.

Police forces across the country are redoubling efforts to find Australia's most wanted fugitives, but they need the community to be their eyes and ears.

Operation Roam, launched on Monday, is focused on tracking down 20 fugitives who've managed to evade the long arm of the law, despite committing heinous and serious crimes.

Crime Stoppers is offering rewards of up to $1000 for tip offs that lead to arrests, as part of an annual push to catch the crims.

One of the standouts on the list is Stuart Pearce, who's accused of murdering his wife and three of his children in Adelaide 24 years ago.

Despite the offer of a $1 million reward, he remains on the run, suspected of lighting a house fire that killed Meredith Pearce and their children Adam, 11, Travis, 9 and Kerry, 2.

A fourth child, then 8, was sleeping over at a friend's house and was spared but has lived most of his life with the fear he might one day be hunted down.

Crime Stoppers Queensland chief executive Trevor O'Hara says Pearce could be anywhere in the country, and that's true for the others on the list too.

"The son is still living today ... for all these years wondering whether he's going to be next," he told AAP on Monday.

Last year, South Australian police released new computer-generated images of Pearce, who would now be 58.

He had several distinctive tattoos including a naked woman with a rose on her back on his upper right arm, and a red and green rose over a Maltese Cross on his lower left leg, but it's possible he's had them removed or altered.

Another stand out is suspected Comanchero bikie Brady Hamilton, a suspected Comanchero bikie with ginger hair and ink splashed across his chest who's wanted over the bashing murderer of a man in Sydney's Erskine Park in 1999.

"Look at these people very closely, have a close look," NSW Crime Stoppers chief executive Peter Price has urged all Australians of the wanted list.

"The can't be hiding under a rock. They are living somewhere in our community."


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Source: AAP

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New push to catch Australia's most wanted | SBS News