From tax fraud to terrorism

Tell us what you know not who you are

06 October 2009

For the first time UK crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, is proactively seeking information on terrorism as well as other crime that is harming communities.

The charity's campaign 'You know your community' is appealing to the public of Derbyshire, Newham and Hounslow to pass on any information they may have about crime – from tax fraud to terrorism - to help make communities safer.

Crimestoppers recognises that terrorism is a crime that concerns all communities, and the charity is now in a position to proactively seek information on this issue. Crimestoppers' call agents have had additional, professional training and support for taking information on terrorism to ensure that the best quality information is taken to help law enforcement in preventing attacks and solving crimes.

One of the best tools in the fight against terrorism is vigilance from the communities that terrorists live. People know their communities and so are best placed to notice strange or suspicious activity that doesn't usually take place, that could potentially be indicative of people planning terrorist attacks.

Dave Cording, Crimestoppers' Director of Operations, said: “The charity has been rapidly expanding its work in recent years, both in the UK and abroad, on various crime-fighting projects and we are pleased to say that for the first time we are able to proactively seek information on terrorism as well. Through this campaign, we want to say to people; ‘you know your community so we need you tell us about suspicious activity and crime that will prevent people hurting your community'.

“We appreciate that giving information about crime can be very difficult and that's why Crimestoppers is here. We provide a service that allows you to give information about crime anonymously so no-one will ever know your identity.”

The campaign includes banners, posters, emails, calling cards, newspaper adverts, fridge magnets, stickers, and booklets. Information included in materials explains that Crimestoppers is not part of the police and that everyone who passes on information about crime remains anonymous.

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Notes to editors
For further information contact Crimestoppers' press office.

Crimestoppers

• Crimestoppers is an independent charity which helps the police to solve crimes, making communities safer. It does this by operating the 24/7 telephone number 0800 555 111 which people can ring to pass on information about crimes anonymously. They can also use our ‘giving information' form via our website www.crimestoppers-uk.org .
• Around 19 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers. One person every four days is charged with murder.
• Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over a million actionable calls, resulting in over 94,000 arrests and charges. Over £167 million worth of property has been recovered and over £174 million worth of drugs.
• In 2006, Crimestoppers launched the UK's Most Wanted on its website which allows the public to view images of criminals and pass on vital information about their whereabouts. It has been highly successful with 655 arrests to date from 2.5 thousand appeals posted.
• Crimestoppers UK was founded by Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Chairman of Trustees. In 1988, he launched Crimestoppers in the Metropolitan Police area. Crimestoppers ‘call to action' is built on a three-way partnership between the business community, the police and the media.