INDEPENDENT crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers in Essex received a record number of reports from the public in the last 12 months, achieving the highest percentage increase across the country.

From April 2016 to March 2017, the Crimestoppers’ UK Contact Centre handled more than 4,200 Essex-related reports, a 44 per cent increase on the previous 12 months, compared to the charity’s national average increase of 24 per cent.

Crimestoppers encourages people to pass on information about crime anonymously by phone or online.

Stewart Rawlins, Chair of Crimestoppers in Essex, said: “This is a huge increase and we are very proud that Essex has successfully increased the number of people reporting crime anonymously.

“These figures show that the Crimestoppers’ message is getting through to people who want to make a difference in their local communities.

“Just one small piece of information that could appear insignificant may be the key to enabling the police to complete their investigations and lead to an arrest and charge being made.”

Key Crimestoppers’ initiatives in the county in the past 18 months have included a powerful domestic abuse campaign; the introduction of a pocket-sized marketing card which explains how the organisation works; an ambassadors programme designed to work with partner organisations to reach particular groups; and smaller, targeted projects in selected crime hotspots.

Stewart added: “We are not part of the police and we are not BBC Crimewatch. Calls cannot be recorded or traced, no-one will be asked for their name or any personal details and they will not have to give a statement or go to court.”

Visit: crimestoppers-uk.org.