Aberdeen Crimestoppers celebrates at their 20th Anniversary event

[18 June 2008]

To help celebrate twenty years of an unparalleled crime-fighting partnership, the local board of Crimestoppers held a reception at The Town House, Aberdeen on Tuesday 10th June 2008.

Hosted by Mick Laurie, Chief Executive of Crimestoppers and Colin McKerracher, Chief Constable of Grampian Police, the evening celebrated the achievements of Crimestoppers.

Mick Laurie said: “We are working to grow and further develop Crimestoppers in Scotland and here in Grampian we have an excellent and successful model, well supported by local businesses and the police, which we will use across the whole country. Marking our 20th anniversary has given us a chance to realise how far we have come and what an impact we have made in helping the police to solve crimes. We have stuck to our word and never in that time breached our promise of anonymity and this means that people trust us and know they are safe calling Crimestoppers.”

Along with their partners and supporters, presentations were made to the winners of both categories of the Crimestoppers Community Unity Awards 2008. Transition Extreme Sports Ltd, located at Aberdeen Beach, was awarded Socially Responsible Business of the Year. Transition proved without a doubt their commitment and proactive contribution to making local communities safer places to live, work and study by encouraging and offering opportunities for individuals to take part in extreme sporting activities within their premises.

The Young Citizens of The Year award (sponsored by new Associate Members, Aberdeen Airport) was given to the Dyce Art In The Park Group. Pupils at Dyce Academy, Aberdeen, a group of 21 youngsters, built life-size sculptures using casts of their own bodies, which were put on display in Dyce Central Park. The youngsters worked on the project with tutors from Aberdeen City Council's arts development team.

Regarding the award, Brian Whyte, deputy chairman of Crimestoppers Scotland said: “This is the first time we have given an award such as this. We were looking for courage and commitment of ordinary young people who have made an outstanding contribution to improving the quality of life in their community. What Art in the Park is doing is working on a known area of vandalism and creating something positive”.

To add to the evening's events, new associate members of Crimestoppers, The Wood Group and Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, were presented with their membership plaques.

Entertainment was provided by a member of the Grampian Police Pipe Band, who played for guests as they arrived, and a group of young musicians from The Aberdeen City Music School, who played traditional Scottish music later in the evening.