Crimestoppers – the charity which allows members of the public to pass on information about crime anonymously, is joining forces with The Jockey Club and the Racecourse Association (RCA) in a new partnership which aims to raise awareness of the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 number.
The venture was launched at the Craven Meeting at Newmarket on Thursday, April 14 with TV commentator John McCririck and a Crimestoppers presence in the form of banners alongside the race track and branding in the racecard.
All of the RCA’s courses are supporting the initiative, including Aintree (host of the John Smiths Grand National meeting) and York (host of this year’s Royal Ascot).
Crimestoppers describe it as a particularly relevant time for such a venture as the integrity of the sport of racing has recently been the subject of much scrutiny with a widely publicised, on-going police investigation among other incidents. However, Crimestoppers, The Jockey Club and The Racecourse Association hope that the raised awareness of Crimestoppers will encourage those involved in the racing world, whether professionally or privately, to report information on all aspects of crime.
By joining forces with The Jockey Club and The Racecourse Association, Crimestoppers is also spreading the message. Racing is one of Britain’s most popular sports – more than six million people went racing in 2004 and is second only to football as the most televised sport in the UK.
What they say
Dave Cording, Crimestoppers Director of Operations, said: "We are delighted to be working with The Jockey Club and The Racecourse Association. This is an important time in the history of the sport and by raising awareness for the invaluable service which Crimestoppers provides to the public, we can further help to reduce all aspects of crime." Paul Scotney, the Jockey Club’s Director of Security, said: "Crimestoppers has a proven track record of success and is a recognised brand all over the country. We are appealing for information on all forms of criminal activity which relate to the sport of horse racing, as well as specifically requesting those who may have information involving corruption or malpractice to use, with confidence, the Crimestoppers number."
