Crime stoppers facts and figures
-
Crime Stoppers is a community-based initiative which encourages members of the community to provide information on wanted people, unsolved crimes and people they know have committed criminal offences but have not been arrested.
-
People who have information may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1000 if their information leads to an arrest. Informants who provide information can remain anonymous if they wish.
-
A police officer, concerned at the increasing rate of crime in his area, started the Crime Stoppers movement in 1976 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. Crime Stoppers is now an international operation.
-
New South Wales adopted the Crime Stoppers concept in 1988 and the program began operation in 1989.
-
Corporate sponsors provide Crime Stoppers with the funds for cash rewards and marketing. These sponsors and senior police make up a Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers in each state of Australia.
-
Rewards are paid to informants, identified or anonymous, for any information that results in an arrest of an offender following information supplied to the unit. Less than six percent of callers to Crime Stoppers seek a reward.
-
Police recommend whether a reward should be considered but it is up to the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors to decide if a reward should be paid and the amount.
Since it began operation in 1989, Crime Stoppers has recorded the following progressive total of results, (figures as of February 2007):
|
Number of phone calls received:
|
361,302
|
|
Property value recovered:
|
$8,779,594
|
|
Drugs value recovered:
|
$86,723,270
|
|
Rewards paid (value):
|
$133,650
|
|
Number of rewards paid:
|
366
|
|
Number of persons arrested
|
3,555
|
|
Number of charges laid:
|
10,956
|
Breakdown of charges
|
Homicide:
|
70
|
|
Assault:
|
173
|
|
Armed Robbery:
|
262
|
|
Sex Offences:
|
99
|
|
Stealing:
|
187
|
|
Motor Vehicle Theft:
|
159
|
|
Fraud:
|
888
|
|
Warrants:
|
617
|
|
Drugs:
|
5,852
|
|
Serious Traffic:
|
149
|
|
B&E/GIC/Receiving:
|
1,129
|
|
Property Offences:
|
254
|
|
Firearm Offences:
|
519
|
|
Other:
|
565
|
Since Crime Stoppers began in New South Wales in 1989, it helped solve thousands of crimes that could otherwise have gone unnoticed.
The secret to Crime Stoppers' success is that it offers both anonymity and a pat on the back if the information provided results in an arrest. Crime Stoppers is such an important communication link between the NSW Police and the community that it's hard to imagine fighting crime without it.
|
