ALMOST 1,500 members of the public have provided information to Crimestoppers by phone and online this year.

This has led to 192 arrests, which once again ranks Cheshire Constabulary as one of the highest performing forces in the country in converting Crimestoppers information into arrests.

Throughout the year Crimestoppers has run many high-profile campaigns in Cheshire on burglary, counterfeit goods, Illegal tobacco and drugs cultivation which have led to arrests. The service has also launched a youth website and brand, Fearless.org.

Terry Savage, chairman of Cheshire Crimestoppers, said: “A huge thank you must go to the people throughout Cheshire for using the charity to pass on information about crime.

“We’re extremely proud that Crimestoppers continues to play such a vital role in helping to make our local community a safer place to live.

“I must pay tribute to the great work of Cheshire police in how they have dealt with the information that we have passed to them. The value of this information is clearly seen by the number of arrests that have resulted.

“I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous work of Colin Brown, who has recently stepped down after three very successful years as chairman of Cheshire Crimestoppers.

“I’d like to reassure the public that our service is completely anonymous and in the 23 years the charity’s been running no-one has ever been identified.

“The service is run for you, the public, to help make your community a safer place to live. We are not part of the police or Government, we are an independent charity, so by contacting us you’ll never have to give a statement to the police or go to court.”

Nationally the charity has achieved a 1% increase in actionable information and a 10% increase in the number of people arrested and charged as a result of information passed to Crimestoppers.

Crimestoppers operates the 24/7 0800 555 111 telephone number for people to pass on information about crimes anonymously.

Information can also be passed via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.