HUNDREDS of tip-off calls were made to Dorset Crimestoppers in 2012 to nail crooks.

A total of 728 anonymous calls were received about offences taking place in the county ranging from murder and robbery to drink driving and rape.

The largest number of calls, 302, were to report suspected drug trafficking and supply offences.

Calls to the organisation in 2012 are higher than in previous years with 631 in 2011, 701 in 2010 and 638 in 2009.

Russell Oaten, chairman of Dorset Crimestoppers and retired Dorset Police inspector, said: “We have had some quite good successes of late.

“People may get in touch with us because they might have had a bad experience when they have gone to the police station or as a witness in court.

“They also don't have to fear any retribution from the neighbours or the family because it is completely anonymous.”

Calls to Crimestoppers are anonymous and made in total confidence. The charity's call centre is manned 24 hours a day and each caller is given a unique reference number which can be used to find out the progress of a case and to claim any reward which may have been offered.

People can also pass on information about crimes via the Crimestoppers website and around 40 per cent of information to the charity is received this way.

Mr Oaten said: “A lot of people feel able to ring Crimestoppers because it's confidential and they know that one phone call is that last piece of the jigsaw.

“There are a lot of hard working people out there who send their kids to school and do everything right. But down the road you can see the family of drug dealers who seem to have it all – fast cars, the latest gizmos. They have a flash life but it’s a life of crime and us hard working people ask what's the point of it all?

“May be that's why we do get a lot of people ringing up about drug dealing in their neighbourhood.”

Dorset Crimestoppers work closely with Dorset Police to support their force priorities and in 2013 these will be rural crime and tackling cannabis factories.

RESULTS FROM CRIMESTOPPERS:
* Intelligence was received about people running a cannabis factory. Police raided the address and charged one person with cultivating cannabis and possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply. They were jailed for eight months.
* An inmate of a Dorset prison was planning to escape with the help of an armed gang. He was moved to another prison after someone called Crimestoppers with the information.
* A man, who was due to receive a custodial sentence, was organising a consignment of drugs for his time inside. He was placed in segregation as he entered to thwart his plan.
* Call received about a sex offender using a Russian internet site to form friendships with children. Individual arrested for breach of Sex Offender Prevention Order and bailed.
* A call was received that a 15-year-old girl had been talking to a man online and he’d arranged to take her to a hotel for sex. Crimestoppers contacted social services and the girl was spoken to at school. Enquiries are ongoing to establish ID of the man.

THE SUCCESS OF CRIMESTOPPERS:
*22 people are arrested every day as a result of information to Crimestoppers
* Since it started in 1988, 1.3 million calls with useful information have been made to the charity that has led to an arrest and charge
* 117,000 people have been arrested and charged with offences including murder, rape, drug dealing, robbery and theft
* £123 million worth of stolen property has been recovered
* Drugs with the street value of £270 million have been seized
* Out of the 8,000 appeals through Crimestoppers Most Wanted, 1,667 suspects have been arrested and charged.

 

DORSET REPORTS TO CRIMESTOPPERS IN 2012:
Assault/harassment – 27
Possession of weapons – 13
Murder – 11
Rape and sexual offences – 38
Robbery – 15
Burglary – 6
Criminal damage – 6
Arson – 1
Drug trafficking – 302
Drug manufacture and cultivation – 48
Possession and other drug crime – 3
Theft – 25
Fraud and forgery – 16
Disqualified and uninsured drivers – 34
Drink driving – 70
Other road traffic offences – 21
Immigration offences – 37
Wanted persons – 14
Trading standard offences – 6
HMRC – 8
Other violence crime – 1
Other crime – 26
TOTAL – 728