Phone calls and online reports made by members of the Toowoomba community to Crime Stoppers have resulted in 93 local arrests and 178 local charges by police, and contributed to a record-breaking year for the not for profit organisation.
Toowoomba’s figures contribute to the record-breaking state-wide total of 2,226 offenders arrested on 5,565 charges in 2013, resulting from 24,919 intelligence reports passed on by Crime Stoppers to the Queensland Police Service.
Crime Stoppers Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mr Trevor O’Hara said intelligence reports in 2013 were up 19 per cent from 2012 and arrests were up 22 per cent.Total reports to Crime Stoppers reached almost 50,000 for the year, with more than 43,000 reporting via telephone and more than 5,500 lodging their information online.
“2013 has been the single best year of arrests resulting from Crime Stoppers reports since our program commenced operation in 1989,†he said. “Queensland communities have embraced the anonymity of Crime Stoppers. The Toowoomba community, along with the rest of the state, has helped make Queensland safer, with 2,226 offenders arrested on 5,565 charges in 2013.â€
Mr O’Hara said illegal drug related activity was the most reported crime to Crime Stoppers in 2013, resulting in 43 drug trafficking charges and 1,799 possession of dangerous drugs charges. In addition to this, he said a number of other significant results were also achieved last year.
“Queenslanders who came forward with anonymous information helped us provide information to police which resulted in six grievous bodily harm charges, 93 sexual offence charges, 210 weapons act offence charges, 43 wilful damage charges, 18 corrective services offence charges and 36 offenders arrested on outstanding warrantsâ€.
Anyone can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously by calling 1800 333 000, going online to www.crimestoppersqld.com.au or downloading and reporting from the Crime Stoppers Queensland mobile app.
Submitted by:
Jackie McRae
PPR
jackie.mcrae@ppr.com.au
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