Community’s vital role can help save lives, say charities

Jun 23 2011 by Kenny Smith, Hamilton Advertiser

CRIME-FIGHTING charity Crimestoppers and Victim Support Scotland are urging Hamilton residents to help rid their community of violent crime.

Crimestoppers and Victim Support will be joining forces with the Police to drive home the message that information about violent criminals in South Lanarkshire can be passed on completely anonymously through the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111 or via the charity's website www.crimestoppers-uk.org

In order to effectively tackle violent crime, information on those who habitually carry knives or other weapons is required so that officers can follow up and target the offenders.

Heather Dickson, business delivery manager for Lanarkshire at Victim Support Scotland said: “On a daily basis we see the impact this type of crime has, and the devastation it causes for individuals, their families and their communities.

“We constantly strive to increase awareness of just how far reaching the impacts of crime are, and we are delighted to be supporting this campaign.

“It provides an opportunity for anyone in our local communities, from children in school to our older residents, to provide any information they have on those who persist in carrying and using weapons in a safe and confidential way.”

Chief Superintendent Alan Gall, Divisional Commander of South Lanarkshire Division commented: “Let's be brutally honest, anyone who leaves their house carrying a knife or a weapon does so with the sole intention of possibly using the weapon against someone.

“We have devised this campaign to speak directly to our communities that they have the power to do something about it.

“That power is to report information that they may have on offenders and potential offenders – not to the police, which can cause fear of repercussion - but straight to Crimestoppers, whilst remaining completely anonymous.

“We need local people to fill in the missing gaps of information so we can lock these people up. My officers regularly attend community meetings and tirelessly promote community engagement.

“This needs to be a two way relationship and in order to assist the police in South Lanarkshire in tackling those that are responsible for serious violence I need the community to offer up any form of information.

“Please don't assume that the police will already know as this could, in extreme cases, be the difference between saving someone's life and yet another tragic set of circumstances.

“That thought must always be at the forefront of your mind.

Jennifer Harrower, Procurator Fiscal, Hamilton said: “I fully support this initiative which will assist Strathclyde Police to translate the information which is received into evidence against individuals and in turn to build a strong prosecution case against them.

“We will continue to work with the police and other criminal justice agencies to take a robust approach to violent crime, and anyone acting in this way can expect to be prosecuted to the fullest extent.”

John Rowbotham, editor of the Rutherglen Reformer, Hamilton Advertiser and East Kilbride News, and who is supporting the campaign said: “At a time when the potentially-devastating impact of knife crime is of deep concern to many in our community, this initiative is to be welcomed.

“Assistance from the public is vital to the police in their fight against violent crime.

“Some people afraid of reprisals are often unwilling to give vital information to the police.

“Crimestoppers allows such people to pass on information anonymously and provides them with an assurance that no one will ask for their name or record their call.

“I would urge people to use the number.

“Remember: the information you pass on could avert a crime, solve a crime or even save a life.”

The campaign will now run until Monday August 1.