What should I do if I see a crime being committed?
If it’s happening in front of you then immediately call 999 to report it.
So what’s your connection to Crimestoppers?
None at all, but we feel that they offer such a valuable service we are happy to offer our support and encourage our friends, colleagues, neighbourhood watch groups, anyone we come into contact with in fact to call if they have any information about a crime or antisocial behaviour but don’t want to say who they are.
How does it work?
Crimestoppers is an independent charity which has been set up to gather crime intelligence and forward it on to the police. They never ask for your name, your call won’t be recorded or traced in any way, you will not have to make a statement to the police and you won’t have to appear in court.
The service is so that you need never be afraid to report a crime.
So what would happen if I saw a face on a CrimeWatch tv programme and I’m pretty sure its my neighbour, but if he finds out I reported him he’ll make my life a living hell.
The answer is surprisingly simple … call 0800 555 111. The person who answers the telephone won’t ask for your name or where you live. You can simply tell them that you think the person shown on the tv is your neighbour and give his name and address. Crimestoppers will then contact the police and pass that information on – they won’t mention that the information has come from a neighbour they will simply say that they have had a call and the person involved in this crime may be … and they will give your neighbour’s name and address. Your involvement will end as soon as you hang up the telephone. The police will not be calling you for more information, or asking you for a statement or to appear in court because they will not know who you are.
But what if it’s not someone who’s committed a serious crime, it’s a boy who’s parents are a bit scary and he keeps kicking his ball at all the cars on our road.
Exactly the same principles apply, you should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and report this antisocial behaviour. You won’t be asked for your name or address and the information will be passed on to the police – in this circumstance it is likely that the Neighbourhood Policing Team will visit the family and advise them that their son’s behaviour is not acceptable and they must take the ball away from him. These officers will not know who you are or where you live and so the parents will not know who has made the complaint.