9 September 2020
Almost 25 crimes are solved each week in South Australia as a result of information forwarded by the public to police, Crime Stoppers SA says.
The crime-fighting organisation, which partnered with the ANMF (SA Branch) earlier this year, this week released its half-year results, which saw nearly 10,000 calls received in the first six months of the year and more than 2,800 online reports.
Over 6,000 information reports were taken from the community and nearly 6,500 actions issued to police for investigation, resulting in the seizure of firearms, clandestine labs and arrests of people for murder, armed robberies and violent assaults.
In response to rising violence against nurses and midwives at South Australian hospitals, the ANMF (SA Branch) partnered with Crime Stoppers and health care sites across the state this year to help create a safer working environment for health professionals.
A key part of the initiative is the placement of prominent signage, displaying Crime Stoppers contact details as well police and emergency numbers in high-risk areas, providing a practical resource to encourage people to take a proactive role in community safety.
As the nation’s most trusted information receiving service, Crime Stoppers provides people with the opportunity to share what they know about unsolved crimes and suspicious activity without saying who they are.
ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Assoc Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM said the ANMF’s partnership with Crime Stoppers SA reinforced the union’s commitment to the implementation of practical and effective measures to address violence in the workplace and ultimately keep nursing and midwifery staff and the wider community safe.
“We acknowledge that signage alone is not a solution to fixing the issue of violence facing health professionals, however, it is a practical step that may deter criminal activities,’’ she said.
Half-year results released by Crime Stoppers SA include:
- 9,795 calls to the hotline and 2,828 online reports;
- 6,914 information reports;
- 6,460 actions issued for investigation by police;
- 286 apprehensions;
- 228 contacts about cold case murders
- 60,234 visitors to the Crime Stoppers SA website and 185,565 page views.
The number of drug and firearm seizures attributed to Crime Stoppers SA from January to June 2020:
- Cannabis plants: 7,714
- Cannabis: 318.9kg (equating to 127,560 street deals – not including plants)
- Clandestine drug labs: 5
- Methamphetamines: 191.5 grams (equating to 1,915 street deals)
- GHB: 5.3 litres (equating to 5,300 street deals
- Firearms: 20
The public are urged to continue to report any incidents or suspicious behaviour by contacting Crime Stoppers SA on 1800 333 000 or online at
www.crimestopperssa.com.au - where they can remain anonymous.