Reporting to Crimestoppers

Dear Resident,

We’re aware that many people in our community hold valuable information about crimes, incidents, or antisocial behaviour, but feel unable to report it directly to the police - often due to concerns about possible repercussions.

Your safety and peace of mind are incredibly important to us. If you have information about crime or suspicious activity but would prefer to remain anonymous, please remember you can report it safely and confidentially through Crimestoppers. This independent charity is completely separate from the police and guarantees 100% anonymity - your identity will never be revealed.

If you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right, please don’t hesitate to report it. Even small pieces of information can make a big difference.

You can access Crimestoppers here: Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers

What happens after you give information?

When you contact Crimestoppers - whether online or by phone - they follow a structured and transparent process to keep you safe while ensuring your information reaches the right people.

1. A report is created
Crimestoppers turns your call or online form into a written report that brings together all the details you provided. Importantly, they remove anything that could identify you to ensure complete anonymity.

2. Your report is sent to the relevant authority
Crimestoppers forwards the information to the organisation responsible for investigating that type of crime. This may be the Police or another agency such as the UK Border Agency or HM Revenue & Customs. In some cases, it may also be shared with trusted partner organisations if it helps keep communities and workplaces safe.

3. Assessment of the information
Once received, the Police or agency will:

~ Research and validate the information

~ Check it against other intelligence

~ Ensure it isn’t malicious or inaccurate - Anonymous information cannot be the sole basis for a search warrant or arrest, but it often plays a crucial role in building the bigger investigative picture. 

4. The information is allocated for action
After assessment, the information is passed to the appropriate officer or team. This may lead to additional research, safeguarding activity, targeted patrols, or operational action depending on what you’ve reported. 

5. Action may not always be immediate - but it is always useful
There are many reasons why you may not see a quick result. For example:

~ The information might support a larger or longer-term investigation

~ It may be stored on file until further intelligence comes in

~ Additional details may be needed before action is possible. Even if you don’t see visible activity, your report can still be vital