As a very first initiative, the newly formed Northamptonshire Crimestoppers are working with the county police to provide bags for use in custody areas across the county.
The bags printed with Crimestoppers number and information will be used for all the statutory information that needs to be passed to those people taken into custody.
“ It’s important that we reach people from all backgrounds’, said Det Supt Dean Smith, who is Director of Intelligence for Northamptonshire Police. “Often it is those people with the most relevant information who can’t be seen to contact the police or are fearful of doing so. Crimestoppers protects the caller’s identity but we can still act on the information given and help the whole community”.
He added: "This is an excellent initiative, which we strongly support. We will literally have a captive audience and we hope that while people are in the cells they will read the information on the bag and decide to give Crimestoppers a call when they are released.”
About Crimestoppers
Crimestoppers is a free UK-wide number 0800 555 111 which supports the public to come forward with information anonymously. Northamptonshire has, until now, been served by the Anglia region, but is developing its own local Board to work alongside other partners to focus on crime reduction issues at a local level. The new Board will work to publicise the number and raise funds towards payment of rewards.
New Chairman Martin Lawrence says: “We are here for the public; calls to the 0800 555 111 number are not recorded, nor are names or personal details, just the information about crime. If this leads to arrest and charge, then callers may receive a reward – still paid without compromising his or her identity. In time we want to make sure that local people have knowledge and benefit of Crimestoppers, so that the everyone can play a role in making their community safer whatever their circumstances”.
