Crimestoppers and Brighton University are full of beans about McDonald's

Sussex Crimestoppers has joined up with McDonald's Restaurants and Brighton University to provide students across the city with a convenient way to remember that all important Crimestoppers number – 0800 555 111.

Sussex Crimestoppers were looking for a way for students to keep their number handy so they could use it, if needed, to call anonymously with information about any crime or criminal. Area Manager for Sussex Crimestoppers, Carolyn Randall, came up with the idea of asking McDonald's to provide a loyalty card that would encourage students to keep the Crimestoppers phone number safe and in the forefront of their minds. The subsequent cards have the Crimestoppers phone number on one side and on the other side an offer for a cup of freshly ground McDonald's Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee.

Don Edwardson, Chairman of Sussex Crimestoppers is pleased with the partnership with McDonald's and Brighton University and says: “Sussex Crimestoppers is happy to be working in partnership with McDonald's and Brighton University to launch its new ‘Tell us….!' Campaign. The campaign will distribute 250,000 loyalty cards over the next three years and will have a free McDonald's coffee offer to those over 16 and give details of the Crimestoppers 24/7 phone number 0800 555 111 for those with information about any crime or criminal. The call to Crimestoppers comes with a guarantee of absolute anonymity.

"Every day in the UK, 17 people are arrested as a result of a call to Crimestoppers and from a charity that started in 1988 it is about to receive its one-millionth caller later this year. Every call counts, no matter what the crime is so by ‘making the call' it can make a real difference whether its about a drug dealer, burglar, car theft, vandal, sex abuser or robbers”.

Phil Gilks, University of Brighton Students' Union President (2006/8), also sees the partnership as important. He has this to say: “The University of Brighton Students' Union is pleased to be one of the partners in the ‘Tell us......!' Campaign, working with Crimestoppers and McDonald's to help ensure that students can play their part in helping to pass on any information they have about any crime or criminal. This is especially important bearing in mind that students sadly can be seen as an easy target for criminals. However, by working together we can all ensure that we help to make our environment a safer place for everyone. Students will also appreciate the sustainably grown coffee they will be able to take advantage of with the loyalty cards”.

Finally, Ismet Turen, McDonald's Franchisee of the four McDonald's Restaurants across Brighton, says: “Many students from across the city use our restaurants, especially now that we offer free WiFi to our customers. This means that our coffee loyalty card with Sussex Crimestoppers is a very keepable item for students. This makes our partnership with Crimestoppers and the University of Brighton ideal”.