As Crime Stoppers Victoria ends a record-breaking year, the Victorian Government has extended its funding support for the non-profit organisation, providing $2.85 million over the next four years.
Stella Smith, chief executive of Crime Stoppers Victoria, said the funding will provide significant support and reflected the importance of Crime Stoppers to the Victorian community.
The 2020-21 financial year saw Victorians share unprecedented levels of information with Crime Stoppers that helped prevent and solve crime.
The year saw an extra 1000 tips each month, resulting in 92,000 calls and online reports over the year – an increase of 14 per cent from the previous period.
It has also been a record year for drug seizures as a result of tips to Crime Stoppers, with more than $82 million worth of drugs being taken off the streets.
Calls relating to Covid breaches were directed to the Police Assistance Line, however Crime Stoppers still received 2214 reports over the year.
“We think as people spent more time at home, they perhaps had a stronger appreciation of community safety, and they were also more likely to notice suspicious activity,” Ms Smith said.
“This funding has enabled us to build on the awareness of crime prevention in the community through increased information resources, launching a new website and a crime reporting system that is available in ten languages.
“We are grateful to the Minister for Crime Prevention Natalie Hutchins and the Victorian Government for their continued support. The value this provides to a not-for-profit organisation cannot be overstated.”
Ms Smith said the funding commitment would help Crime Stoppers to achieve its goal of a safer Victorian community.
Across the 2020/21 financial year, Crime Stoppers recorded 92,003 tips from the Victorian public resulting in over 1023 arrests.
Over 1.2 million tips to the organisation since it started in 1987 have resulted in 104,523 charges, 26,914 arrests and over $371 million in drugs, property and cash seized.
