Help fight hate crime

The UK crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers is running a campaign in Hounslow, Newham and Derby to encourage residents to pass on information about hate crime.

Hate crimes are offences motivated by intolerance, usually on the grounds of race, religious beliefs, sexuality, age or disability. They commonly include assault, vandalism, hate mail, criminal damage and threats of violence.

Crimestoppers is reminding Hounslow, Newham and Derby residents that if they pass on information to the charity, they will remain anonymous. Calls are not traced or recorded and no personal details of the caller are taken. This means people who pass on information will never have to give a statement or go to court.

Dave Cording, Crimestoppers' Director of Operations said: “All people have the right to feel safe in their community, no matter what their religion, race, age, ability or sexuality. By passing on information on hate crime to Crimestoppers, you can help make your area a safer community for everyone.”

Crimestoppers can take calls on its 24 hour hotline 0800 555 111 no matter what language the caller speaks. Members of the public can also pass on information anonymously to Crimestoppers through their giving information form.

Posters promoting the campaign are being hung in local businesses, libraries and faith organisations. A viral email raising awareness of hate crimes and Crimestoppers is also being circulated. The campaign is running until 30 August 2009.

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For more information contact Crimestoppers' press office.

Notes to editor:

• 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 the giving information form on our website.
• 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 91,000 arrests and charges. Over £167 million worth of property has been recovered and over £160 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 over 500 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.
• In September 2007, Crimestoppers launched a youth website ShadowCS.co.uk which allows young people to give information anonymously online.