Crime Stoppers Victoria has recognized the role its key media contacts and supporters play in crime detection, prevention and awareness with a function at the Immigration Museum in Melbourne.

The not-for-profit community organisation, which had its early beginnings in 1987, is celebrating a 11-year partnership with Motorola Solutions, a 28-year partnership with Channel Nine and the Herald Sun and the 11th anniversary of its successful multilingual media partnership program.

The organisation has over 60 media partners across print, radio and television, covering a multitude of nationalities and languages.

“These long-standing partnerships with mainstream and multilingual media outlets allow Crime Stoppers to help locate wanted criminals and persons of interest to create a safer community for all Victorians,” Crime Stoppers CEO Samantha Hunter said.

“The confidential information received by Crime Stoppers is supplied directly to police, which reduces policing hours and provides a valuable resource to investigators. This would not be possible without the support we receive from the community and the media,” Hunter added.

Channel Nine Melbourne has been a strong supporter of Crime Stoppers, with Peter Hitchener presenting the weekly Target Crime on air since 1987. This outstanding contribution was recognised with the Crime Stoppers International 2015 Television Crime Award, announced in October.

Victoria’s Most Wanted column in the Herald Sun, which first went to print in July 2012, has also been hugely effective as a crime fighting tool and boasts a significant 86 per cent arrest rate.

Crime Stoppers Victoria Chairman Sal Perna presented the Mersina Halvagis Perpetual Award to Darren James of 3AW Melbourne, to thank and acknowledge Darren for his outstanding contribution to a safer Victoria, and to the Crime Stoppers message. A stalwart of weekend radio, Darren has hosted a Saturday morning 3AW Crime Stoppers slot for more than 20 years.

The SI Mick Miller Award was presented to Senior Sergeant Shane Keogh by Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, in recognition of his contribution to the Crime Stoppers Victoria Dob in a Dealer Program.

The program, funded by the Victorian Government’s Community Crime Prevention Program and run in collaboration with police, was run across 16 regional towns in Victoria to disrupt the supply of ice and other illicit drugs. This successful program led to a significant increase in intelligence resulting in charges, arrests and drug seizures around the state.

Information provided to Crime Stoppers from the community over the past financial year has helped solve the following crimes:

• One murder investigation
• 21 sexual assaults
• 28 armed robberies
• 42 serious assaults
• Six robberies
• Eight clandestine drug laboratories
• 117 hydroponic grow houses
• Three arson offences

Crime Stoppers Victoria thanked the community for their ongoing support and for continuing to provide information that assists Victoria Police members to solve crime.

“We depend on the public to help be our eyes and ears, to report things that they believe to be suspicious and take an active role as citizens in their communities, to ensure Victoria remains a safe place for everyone,” Ms Hunter said.

 In attendance/speeches:

Samantha Hunter           Chief Executive Officer           Crime Stoppers Victoria

Wade Noonan MP                   Minister for Police                   Victorian Government

Graham Ashton             Chief Commissioner                Victoria Police

Crime Stoppers Victoria is a not-for-profit community organisation, helping to keep families and communities safe. They work closely with Victoria Police to provide valuable information from the public to help solve crime. Any information you provide is confidential – so if you see something or you know something, say something.

Contact: Crime stoppers.com.au or 1800 333 000