Police launch Facebook campaign to catch Jo Yeates' killer

Detectives investigating the murder of Joanna Yeates today launched a national Facebook campaign to appeal for witnesses.

Avon and Somerset police said using the social networking site was a more effective way of appealing for information than posters and leaflets.

Detectives said they had used Facebook successfully in the past.

The new campaign dedicated to finding Joanna's killer will update people with the latest information and offer a way for the public to directly contact the incident room online.

The force said it had already received 260 inbound messages to the incident room from people visiting for news and updates on the page set up on the force's own website and the Facebook campaign links directly to this.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Jones said: "The majority of people these days are spending time on Facebook and other social networking sites. This has become part of everyday routine for many people.

"This advert allows us to point people to special features on our website with all the latest information. It allows them to contact the incident room direct online rather than calling in."

Joanna's body was found on Christmas Day, in Longwood Lane, Failand, eight days after she was reported missing from her home in Clifton, Bristol. The force is currently appealing for sightings of a 4x4 car seen near to where her body was found.

DCI Jones said: "I would once again urge anyone who may have not contacted my team and may have information that could help this enquiry to contact us. Let us decide if this information is significant."