The UK charity, Crimestoppers, has unveiled a new crime-fighting website for the Caribbean region, inspired by its own highly successful Most Wanted web portal which was launched in the UK in November 2005. [17 November 2009]

Made possible by the generous support from Crimestoppers UK's founder and Chair, Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, the new website will feature wanted criminals from several Caribbean islands, as well as parts of Central America, which have Crime Stoppers programmes in operation.

This multi-country website will play a vital role in helping to identify and trace wanted criminals as law enforcement in the region may be hunting for individuals who have committed crimes in their jurisdiction but who could have fled to another part of the Caribbean to escape justice.

Some of the featured criminals may also have links with the UK, especially in relation to the illegal drugs trade.

Speaking at the launch of the new website in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Lord Ashcroft, said: “Crimestoppers is a truly international organisation which has as its core value a belief that all communities have the right to live in a crime-free society. Our brand promise of anonymity to all our users has given law enforcement across the globe access to vital crime information that they may otherwise not have been able to get.

“Our colleagues in the Caribbean have long admired the UK's Most Wanted online system which has to date resulted in over 710 arrests. We are delighted that we have been able to extend our expertise in helping to build a website that serves all the Caribbean Crime Stoppers programmes. We wish them all every success in helping to reduce serious crime in the region.”

The site - www.caribbeanmostwanted.com - will feature criminals wanted for serious offences ranging from murder to drugs trafficking in: Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Turks and Caicos.

-ENDS-

Further information

For further information contact Crimestoppers' press office.

Notes to editors

• BCB Holdings Limited has sponsored the website which is the parent company of a successful group of financial services businesses operating in Belize and the Turks and Caicos Islands, including a network of banks serving domestic and international customers. BCB's goal is to be the banking and financial services provider of choice in the Caribbean region and aims to achieve this by building on the success of existing operations and by providing an increased range of financial products and services to individual and corporate customers.
• BCB also has an interest in a successful and market-leading edible oil processing and distribution operation in Costa Rica.
• The company is listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE) and AIM in the UK.
• 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 the website.
• Around 20 people are arrested and charged every day as a result of information given to Crimestoppers. One person every six days is charged with murder.
• Since Crimestoppers began in 1988, it has received over a million actionable calls, resulting in over 95,000 arrests and charges. Over £110 million worth of property has been recovered and over £178 million worth of drugs.
• In 2005, 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 710 arrests to date from 3,400 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.