Anonymous tip-off line Crime- stoppers recorded its highest
call volume last month.
Figures released to the Otago Daily Times show the
national call centre received 1528 calls nationally in
October, the highest number of monthly calls since it started
in October 2009.
Spokesman Lou Gardiner said the October figures represented
an increase of 61 calls on the previous month, the next
highest on record.
The service had fielded 31,483 calls since its launch, and
around 1800 online messages.
Around a-third of the calls had given police enough
information to act, "from starting the intelligence process
to carrying out search warrants and making arrests", Mr
Gardiner said.
The highest number of calls came from the Auckland area,
which accounted for around half of all landline calls.
North Island-related calls accounted for 83% and the South
Island 17%.
"Originally, the South call percentage was higher, but
decreased with the two earthquakes. I think this was in line
with the fall-off of reported crime in Christchurch.
"I presume people had other things to consider - survival,
recovery and ensuring their families were OK. This percentage
is increasing again."
Crimestoppers gathers information volunteered anonymously by
the public, before passing it on to police.
The service remains independent of the police and other law
enforcement agencies.
• Crimestoppers: Phone 0800-555-111.
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