Crime Stoppers is helping police make a significant impact on crime across NSW, with more than $13 million worth of drugs and over 305 arrests in 2024, due to information provided directly by the community.
In 2024 NSW Crime Stoppers received over 93,000 tips equating to around 250 contacts each day (phone and online), helping police enforce the law and prosecutors to ensure people are held accountable for their crimes.
Most reports are now being made online.
Crime Stoppers has been assisting in the safety and security of the NSW community for more than 35 years.
With the community critical to ensuring information is provided, Crime Stoppers is visiting communities across NSW to highlight why information should be provided and how it’s used.
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Over the next two months, they're travelling to regional locations including Dubbo this Friday, as well as Newcastle (this week too), Tamworth, Grafton and Orange (in May).
Crime Stoppers NSW commissioned research relating to the reporting of crime tips with residents of NSW which was conducted in February this year.
Crime Stoppers said this research shows how critical it is for the community to have confidence in the system.
Among the key findings were:
• More than 55 per cent of those surveyed have never reported a tip and 21 per cent of those considered doing so but ultimately did not.
• Fifty per cent said they would provide a crime tip if the crime directly affected themselves or a family member.
• A significant proportion (37 per cent) report they would be equally likely to report regardless of who is affected, indicating a generally strong sense of civic responsibility or belief that reporting is important regardless of personal connection.
• Uncertainty was the highest barrier to providing a crime tip and this was followed by fear then a lack of confidence.
• When it comes to types of criminal activity, those involving harm to individuals are most likely to be reported, followed by property theft. The top motivators for reporting are personal and family safety, followed by preventing it from happening again.
While fear and uncertainty are some of the major barriers to providing information, Crime Stoppers is reminding the community that information is provided in confidence.
“All phone calls and online reports made to Crime Stoppers are made in confidence," said Crime Stoppers NSW CEO Peter Price AM.
"There is no caller or computer ID when you make a report. This is reassuring for those who don’t want to be identified, don’t want the person to know they had made the call, particularly if it is someone they know, like a family member or colleague.
"Our message to the community is we don’t need to know who you are, just what you know."
In the last 12 months Crime Stoppers has seen a significant increase in online reports, and Mr Price said they want to encourage the community to continue to use their online portal, particularly if they have images or video footage relating to that tip.
“We want to assure the community, reporting even the smallest piece of information may be a key piece of evidence needed in solving a crime," he said.
"It may seem small but with information from other sources, it could be what police are looking for to solve a crime. If you see something, hear something or know something, say something."
There are so many good reasons to provide a tip to Crime Stoppers:
• It can keep you, your family and your community safe.
• It can stop the offender from committing further crimes and prevent others from being harmed.
• It can stop behaviour before it escalates.
• Reporting a crime tip means a higher chance a crime gets solved, or property gets recovered.
• Information can often lead to solving multiple crimes by the same offender.
To assist the community, Crime Stoppers has compiled information to help the community with reporting what they know as well as crime prevention tips to keep themselves, their family and the community safe. This can all be found on their website at nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Crime Stoppers can be reached on 1800 333 000. In an emergency call Triple Zero (000).
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