Drugs and guns have been taken off the streets of Northern Ireland as a direct result of information reported to Crimestoppers, Justice Minister David Ford has said.
Mr Ford said it should not underestimated the contribution Crimestoppers makes to tackling crime in Northern Ireland, especially drugs.
He said: “The charity plays an incredibly important role in enabling members of the public to report crime anonymously.”
Between April 2012 and March 2013, almost £117,000 worth of drugs were seized, 76 people arrested and charged and 2,400 pieces of “actionable”information passed to the PSNI.
Mr Ford praised the organisation for the support they provided to the PSNI in tackling crime and encouraged anyone with information on crime to use Crimestoppers to pass it, anonymously, to the police.
He said: “We should not underestimate the contribution Crimestoppers makes to tackling crime in Northern Ireland. The charity plays an incredibly important role in enabling members of the public to report crime anonymously.
“Each year those calls result in taking dangerous weapons and drugs off our streets and putting criminals before the courts.
“Northern Ireland is a relatively safe place to live, but in recent days and weeks we have seen some horrific crimes, including shootings and attempted bombings. The people that are inflicting pain and fear on our community deserve no protection. I encourage the public to report what they know to PSNI or Crimestoppers”
The Minister also took the opportunity to highlight that Crimestoppers was a charity and it was not part of the local policing structures.
David Ford continued: “I have no doubt that Crimestoppers is well known throughout Northern Ireland. What may not be as widely known is the fact that it is a registered charity – not part of the PSNI.”
Anyone who wishes to report crime anonymously can ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or log on to www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
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