BASSETERRE St. Kitts, November 2nd 2012 - In an effort to continue making the Federation a safer place, stakeholders in the community through the Chamber of Industry and Commerce are introducing Crime Stoppers to the Federation.
Crime Stoppers St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN) is a not-for-profit, charitable organization, which provides an avenue for the public to share information, with law enforcement agencies, about a crime that has been committed or one that is being planned, in a confidential and anonymous manner.
Crime Stoppers was created as a tripartite relationship between the media, law enforcement and the community. Crime Stoppers St. Kitts and Nevis will work closely with, but is independent of the police and the government. Crime Stoppers is a global programme governed by the Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers International, which is the umbrella organization that establishes guidelines and oversees the development of Crime Stoppers internationally. There are more than 1200 Crime Stoppers programmes around the world, 10 of them in the Caribbean region.
Mr Veron Lake, one of the spokespersons for Crime Stoppers SKN said, “We decided to introduce the Crime Stoppers program to the Federation because of its success rate in neighboring countries and the international community. Crime Stoppers has many examples of programmes internationally and regionally that have been effective in helping to keep communities safe”.
Mr. Lake indicated that when the program launches in December, if an individual is aware of a crime whether past, present or upcoming, and would like to pass on that information ANONYMOUSLY they can do so by calling the Crime Stoppers overseas based call center at 1-800-TIPS(8477). The hotline is encrypted and information about the call will not be tracked, therefore, individuals providing information will always remain anonymous.
Mr. Lake also confirmed that all calls will be answered outside of the Federation, “in fact the number 1-800-TIPS will be forwarded to a Crime Stoppers call center in Canada where trained operators will take only the tip information, no other information about the caller will be identified. The caller will be then be provided a unique code number, which may be used 30 days later by the caller to redeem a reward if their tip leads to an arrest.” This REWARD, of up to EC $1000, will be paid without compromising the identity of the caller, the process is completely anonymous.
During the month of November, Crime Stoppers SKN will begin an awareness campaign which will be highlighted by visiting various schools, community groups and other organizations in an effort to educate these groups about the program and how the community can make Crime Stoppers a success and by extension make St. Kitts and Nevis a better place to live.
Mr. Lake continued, “It is my belief that the citizens of the Federation want safer, crime-free communities, we just need a way to make it happen, and Crime Stoppers is a way that we can all participate in this process.
In December Crime Stoppers SKN will officially launch to the general public.
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