Upswing in tip-offs to Crimestoppers (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Upswing in tip-offs to Gloucestershire Crimestoppers

3:20pm Monday 28th January 2013 in News By Ian Craig

TIP-OFFS from members of the public led to an increase in arrests across Gloucestershire over the last nine months.

The county’s branch of crime prevention charity Crimestoppers – which allows residents to give information on crimes anonymously – reported a 27 per cent upswing in charges as a result of tip-offs from April to December 2012.

In total 85 people were arrested and charged as a result of information given to Crimestoppers during the period – an increase of two per cent on the same nine months in 2011.

Gloucestershire Crimestoppers committee chairman Ceri Evans described the figures as “very encouraging”.

Forty per cent of information given to the charity concerns drug crime, while 14 per cent involves vehicle crimes including drink-driving.

Concerned members of the public who do not wish to reveal their identity or give evidence in court can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through crimestoppers-uk.org

The charity sometimes offers rewards of up to £1,000 when information leads to a conviction.