Increase in Crime Reporting

12 May 2010, 06:00

There's been a 90% increase in reporting crime across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley in the past year.

Last year just under 2,800 people called Crimestoppers, which is almost twice as many as the year before.

Between April 2009 and March 2010, a total of 2,793 investigations were launched following information given to Crimestoppers.  This compares with 1,466 in the preceding 12 months.

Since 1999, almost 18,000 valuable pieces of information about crime have been received and investigated in the Thames Valley.  Very often, this information is not known to the police, or it may corroborate something already known.  In almost half of cases, the information is new and about offenders not previously known to the police.  Since April 1999, 1,953 individuals have been charged, some with the most serious violent offences.

John Gamon, chairman of the regional board,said:

“This is proof indeed of the value of Crimestoppers to the public and to the police.  Anybody can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 at any time.  They will never be asked for their name and nobody will know they called.  They can however, be confident that their action will help to make the Thames Valley a safer place and that, with their help, offenders will be brought to justice.”