Crime Stoppers QLD Celebrates 20 years of Success

Crime Stoppers Queensland is celebrating 20 years of charity work with some hefty statistics to back up its success...their work has helped in the arrest of 18,664 offenders via anonymous information reports provided by the Queensland public.

A registered Queensland charity, Crime Stoppers Queensland says it has achieved a 6.1% increase in contact with its call centre during 2009.

Crime Stoppers Queensland received 41,798 anonymous phone calls and website reports in 2009, up from 39,393 in 2008.

Chief Executive Officer Trevor O'Hara says that those anonymous pieces of information last year alone resulted in 1,884 arrests up from 1,633 in 2008. That's a 15% increase in arrests in one year.

Another result for the charity was the increase in illegal drugs seized as a direct result of anonymous information provided through its call centre.

O’Hara says in 2009 approximately $10.3 million in illegal drugs were seized after police investigations into the information passed on by their program – representing a 63% increase in seizures from 2008.

Crime Stoppers Queensland is calling for community minded citizens to join its volunteer ranks to assist with its mission of creating safer communities.

O'Hara says most people don't understand how Crime Stoppers really operates and may not even know that it has 400 volunteers spread throughout Queensland.

He says the success of the Queensland program is directly attributable to the passion and dedication that the volunteers deliver in their local communities.

Chairman of Directors Ken Martin says that by becoming a volunteer with Crime Stoppers, members work to assist with promoting access to the program and fundraising to keep the charity services and cash rewards program operating on a daily basis.

Since it began operation in 1989, Crime Stoppers Queensland has received over 515,381 phone calls and website reports. The information received has led to over 49,087 criminal charges laid and has helped to recover in excess of $9.2 million in stolen property.

Anonymous reports have also helped to solve 19 murders and 18 attempted murders in the State over the last 20 years.

Volunteer or anonymously report criminal information by calling 1 800 333 000.