14 February 2008
On Valentine's Day, Scotland Crimestoppers launched an appeal to the public to report crime in their community anonymously, with the start of their ‘Have a Heart for your Community' campaign in Aberdeen City Centre.
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"Crimestoppers is an excellent charity with a proven track record over twenty years in assisting the Police and other agencies in dealing with crime. Often members of the public are reluctant to pass information directly to the police."
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Crimestoppers is working in partnership with Grampian Police to raise awareness of criminal activity by speaking to city centre pubs, clubs and retail establishments and handing out information promoting the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 telephone number for the public to report criminals and criminal activity anonymously 24/7.
Scotland Crimestoppers launched the campaign at the Robert Gordon University Students Union in Schoolhill, Aberdeen . Student Union mascot ‘The Boar' helped local Crimestoppers Project Organiser, Michelle Herd, distribute heart-shaped stress toys to the public along with Crimestoppers information leaflets. The campaign also incorporates local buses carrying posters promoting the message both as street liners and interiors.
Grampian Police via the City Centre Policing Unit supported the launch and initial phase of the initiative. Inspector George Macdonald, who has responsibility for the City Centre Policing Unit, said:
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"Crimestoppers provides the reassurance of anonymity and I would encourage any individual who has information which may assist the Police to contact Crimestoppers. "
He continued: "There are no restrictions on the type of information; a whole host of issues are of great importance to the police, ranging from child protection, violent crime, vandalism, theft, stolen property, drink driving, people trafficking, drugs and antisocial behaviour. By providing information, it often provides the 'missing piece of the jigsaw' or indeed the 'initial foundations' for an enquiry.
Information from the public greatly assists us in delivering service to our local communities and dealing with those who create misery, harm or intimidation. The City Centre is the heart of Aberdeen City and over the coming weeks the initiative will cover the other Neighbourhood areas of city."
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