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Funding for Crimestoppers Scotland
25/07/2008
More than £200,000 is being invested by the Scottish Government to help expand what is the only UK charity focused solely on helping police solve crime.
Crimestoppers Scotland will receive £220,000 over the next three years as it seeks to boost its fundraising effort and presence across Scottish communities.
A national manager for Scotland is to be appointed to lead that effort, with three local project managers also assisting with local fund-raising efforts.
Minster for Community Safety Fergus Ewing said:
"The Scottish Government is committed to working with police, local authorities and the voluntary sector to support safe, strong communities.
"We're directly funding 1,000 extra police and working with forces to improve retention and support redeployment to enhance operational policing in our communities and allow officers to forge strong relationships with families and businesses.
"We want to empower our communities to help law enforcement prevent, detect and solve crime and Crimestoppers plays a key role in doing just that. It enables the public to come forward with information about crime and criminals anonymously, particularly if they feel personal pressure or fear retribution.
"As an independent, volunteer-based organisation, Crimestoppers represents communities, and encourages citizens to take responsibility for preventing and helping to solve crime, making Scotland safer and stronger."
Welcoming the announcement, Adam Findlay, Chairman of Crimestoppers Scotland said:
"This investment from the Scottish Government is a massive boost to the charity as it will go a long way in helping us to enhance our presence in communities right across the country.
"For several years we have had an excellent team of staff and volunteers in Scotland who have worked tirelessly to promote Crimestoppers.
"Having a full-time national manager will really help in consolidating this effort and take our operation to another level."
An autonomous organisation, Crimestoppers nonetheless works closely with criminal justice agencies including the Scottish Police Service Authority (SPSA).
Carole McLean, head of SPSA criminal justice, welcomed today's funding boost, saying:
"As providers of call centre support to Crimestoppers, we've been delighted this year to provide the charity team with dedicated accomodation - saving them many thousands of pounds - and we will be delighted to extend that arrangement to provide a base for the new national manager for Scotland and help reduce overheads further.
"Crimestoppers is a unique partnership in the criminal justice system - with the independent charity, SPSA and the 8 forces all playing their parts.
"The new appointment will, I hope, bring new energy and direction to Crimestoppers' awareness and fund-raising work and contribute towards what all the partners are striving for - information that reduces both crime and the number of criminals in our communities."
Assistant Chief Constable Derek Penman, portfolio lead for Crimestoppers for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland Crime Business Area, added:
"ACPOS and Scottish police forces welcome the additional support being given to Crimestoppers by the Scottish government.
"Information about those involved in criminal activity is essential for police forces to fight crime and build safer communities across Scotland. Crimestoppers is an effective and well-established way for anyone who wants to give this information anonymously.
"This additional funding will strengthen the links between the Crimestoppers charity and Scottish forces and increase our capacity to target criminals both nationally and locally."
A total of £220,000 funding is being provided over three years to strengthen current local networks, develop those who have little presence just now and increase the fund-raising opportunities in Scotland. In addition Crimestoppers have set themselves a target in Scotland of a 15 per cent year on year increase for actionable calls (those calls which result in an action from the local police force).
Crimestoppers estimates that it's work over 20 years has seen more than 85,000 individuals arrested or charged across the UK, with over £100 million worth of property and around £150 million worth of drugs recovered.
The Crimestoppers telephone number, to pass on information about any criminal activity anonymously, is 0800 555 111.