The crime reporting line charity Crimestoppers launched a campaign to tackle burglary and vehicle crime in Manchester.
The campaign, Your Voice – Speak out about crime in your community, challenges the public to make a choice between who they are going to support, their community or the criminals. It is only by the public contacting the charity with information on who is committing crime and who is selling stolen goods can communities be safer and better places to live, the charity argues.
Between June 2013 and May 2014 there were 15,929 burglaries in Greater Manchester – 29 per cent of these were via insecurities. Some 50,000 homes will receive leaflets though their letterbox, and posters will be displayed in public places, while information will be sent out via social media. The campaign will also feature key crime prevention messages as many burglaries can be prevented by the public making sure their windows and doors are locked.
The campaign was launched on August 26 by Gary Murray, North West Regional Manager for Crimestoppers, and Chief Superintendent Nick Adderley.
Gary Murray said: “Crimestoppers works; we are not the police, we don’t want your name, we can’t trace your call, we just want the information, and it is totally anonymous. We give the community a voice and a chance to help improve their communities.” And Chief Supt Adderley said: “Our residents act as our eyes and ears and we could not do the job we do without their invaluable support. We genuinely care about the area we police and like you, we do not want to see criminals causing misery and ruining lives. You have my absolute reassurance that Crimestoppers do not pass anything onto the police that identifies where the information has come from. Everything is handled in the strictest of confidence and you will not have to speak to a police officer.”
Crimestoppers operates the 24/7 0800 555 111 telephone number for people to pass on information about crimes anonymously. Information can also be passed anonymously through the charity’s Anonymous Online Form.
